A Brief History of the Italian Marque
Manufactured 1951-19571 by Tappella-Fuchs
Tappella Fuchs was a company established in Milan by Giovanni Tappella which produced mopeds and lightweights in the early 1950s.
Their range included 50cc, 75cc and 125cc machines with engines from FBM, JLO, MAV and two-speed NSV auxilliary motors. The MAV and NSV engines were used on their mopeds.
Models: Campagnola 50, Gazzella 75, Gran Sport JLO 125 scooter (1952), Moscardino 125 and 160cc in version Roma, Roma Sport, Valdarno and SS. A 175cc Competizione was presented at the Milan Show of 1954 with Earles forks.
Their machines were marketed under the Schneller Fuchs brand. A new Italian headquarters was established in Milan and the company name was Fuchs del comm. Gino Tappella.
The company specialized in the manufacture of bicycles and, in the 1950s, included mopeds and light motorcycles in their product range with the brand Fuchs Schneller.
As the name has a Germanic ring to it there have been misconceptions about nationality with the result that, in some publications, it is confused with the Austrian Fuchs marque.
Production included Ibex mopeds built in different versions : Turismo with two or three gears, Grand Sport, Sprint moped, Sprint (without pedals) and others, in addition to a Ciclocarro utility.
Fuchs also offered Mod.14 scooters, Mod 18 Campagnola 50, 75 Gazelle and an unusual motorcycle-scooter hybrid, the Gran Sport powered by a 125 JLO engine. This machine was announced in January of 1952.
There were also the lightweight Moscardino 125 and 160cc in versions Rome, Rome Sport, Valdarno and SS, all with two-stroke engines built by FBM of Bologna.
A 175cc model along with the Competition Moscardino 125 was presented at the Milan Show in 1954, and both are noted in Motociclismo number 48 of that year. The article mentions the aggressive appearance of the 175 Competition model with strongly contoured tank, an exhaust system in "trombone strozzato" style, and Earles forks, which were was also fitted to Ibex Gran Sport moped.
The mopeds used engines from MAV and NSV, the latter built in Bologna by Nanni Società Velomotori who had converted the Grillo auxiliary engine, with roller grip drive manufactured by Marzocchi, fitted with two-speed gearbox and chain drive to the rear wheel.
Sources: Moto di Lombardia, Tragatsch p282
Notes
1. Henshaw gives 1953-1957 but documentation shows a model announced Jan 1952, indicating that 1951 is a more likely date for initial production.
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Lucas
Santiago Chile
Schneller-Fuchs-Minibike-Chile.jpg posted in Comments.
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