This wonderful old charm of a motorcycle is a 1928/ 1929 Automoto.
Automoto were a French outfit that could be seen as pioneers when the combustion era really started to rumble. The company was established in Saint Etienne in 1899 and produced tricycles that bore a similar resemblance to the popular De Dion-Bouton tricycles of the time – albeit some would say that the Automoto was a cut more superior.
Automoto remained in the fold when the motorcycle scene of the early 1900s took off and boomed, and by 1914 the company were producing quality motorcycles that were well-respected in the industry. The bikes used a variety of outsourced motors from reputed companies such as Chaise, Zurcher, J.A.P. and Villers.
Automoto motorcycles were aimed at customers who wanted to pay a touch more in return for a top draw item, and despite the onset of the economic crisis towards the end of the 1920s, the company still kept afloat with the sale of a variety of machines to suit the discerning motorcyclist.
This is one such model – a 1928 Model A5 Grand Tourisme, powered up by a 500cc J.A.P side-valve. It was found in this state by Tarzan Michmuch 15km or so from his home, and came complete with a 1934 Bernadet sidecar from Bourg La Reine in France.
Thanks to Tarzan for sending in these photos of his unique barn-find motorcycle that will once again be afforded a new lease of life.
an article by The Girder Club
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