The 1956 Simplex Automatic motorcycle was designed and built in the United States. Several other manufacturers used the Simplex name, but they were based in Holland, Italy, and England.
Advertisement
The Simplex was the brainchild of Paul Treen, who started the company in the late 1920s with a $25 investment.
Treen was a draftsman by trade and inventor by nature. The Simplex was a natural extension of his abilities and vision. It was built in New Orleans and, surprisingly, it was the only motorcycle ever manufactured in the southern part of the U.S.
The first Simplex motorcycle was introduced in 1935, and as the name implied, was built with simplicity in mind. Its 125-cc engine powered the rear wheel through a direct-drive arrangement, eliminating the complexity and expense of a transmission and clutch.
Later models added more features. The Simplex Automatic motorcycle was fitted with an automatic clutch and variable transmission. Furthermore, its two-stroke engine incorporated a rotary valve that was quite unusual for the period.
Light weight and efficient design combined to return a claimed 100 mpg.
On the next page you'll find more detailed pictures of the 1956 Simplex Automatic motorcycle.
For more great motorcycle articles and pictures, check out:
- Classic Motorcycles
- How Motorcycles Work
- Other Classic Motorcycles
Advertisement
