Casal
Encyclopedia
Metalurgia Casal was the largest Portuguese
motorcycle manufacturer, based in Aveiro. It was founded in 1953 and its first products included agricultural engines. Business leader João Casal met representatives of Zündapp at a trade fair in Hanover in the early 60:s, and then started to build mopeds with Zündapp engines. From 1966 he made his own engine, the Casal engine, which is a modified copy of the Zündapp, to be built in a many variants. The first all-Casal model was the four speed 50 cc scooter Casal S170 Carina. Casal expanded the production to ordinary mopeds and motorcycles. The first was called K181. In the early 70:s Casal began to export their products, for example to the UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. Car production was also planned, but not realised. As the increased purchasing power in their home country Portugal, their most important market, slowed down the sales of mopeds, bankruptcy was a fact in February 2000. In connection with this, unfortunately, parts of the company's archives were destroyed. Today it operates as a Suzuki
representative in Portugal.
Some Casals has survived in their home country Portugal, but also for example in Sweden, where the Swedish type K190 is quite common with collectors.
In 1981 the Dutch Jan Huberts bettered the 50cc speed record with a HuVo-Casal to 224 km/h.
This joint venture made possible to score great results in offroad and road racing competitions.
Also, Casal-HuVo joined World Grand Prix in 80cc class on 1984
and 1985
seasons.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
motorcycle manufacturer, based in Aveiro. It was founded in 1953 and its first products included agricultural engines. Business leader João Casal met representatives of Zündapp at a trade fair in Hanover in the early 60:s, and then started to build mopeds with Zündapp engines. From 1966 he made his own engine, the Casal engine, which is a modified copy of the Zündapp, to be built in a many variants. The first all-Casal model was the four speed 50 cc scooter Casal S170 Carina. Casal expanded the production to ordinary mopeds and motorcycles. The first was called K181. In the early 70:s Casal began to export their products, for example to the UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. Car production was also planned, but not realised. As the increased purchasing power in their home country Portugal, their most important market, slowed down the sales of mopeds, bankruptcy was a fact in February 2000. In connection with this, unfortunately, parts of the company's archives were destroyed. Today it operates as a Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
representative in Portugal.
Some Casals has survived in their home country Portugal, but also for example in Sweden, where the Swedish type K190 is quite common with collectors.
World Records
In 1980 Jan Nijhuys took a 1/4 mile record with a Casal Sparta Plompen. Quarter mile was covered in 15,26 seconds and record speed after 402m where 94.29 km/h.In 1981 the Dutch Jan Huberts bettered the 50cc speed record with a HuVo-Casal to 224 km/h.
Racing
To become competitive, Casal made a partnership with the Dutch company HuVo.This joint venture made possible to score great results in offroad and road racing competitions.
Also, Casal-HuVo joined World Grand Prix in 80cc class on 1984
1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1984 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 36th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Defending champion Freddie Spencer was the pre-season favorite to win the championship however, teething problems with Honda's new V4 and early season injuries squelched his hopes...
and 1985
1985 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1985 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 37th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Honda's Freddie Spencer gave a dominating performance becoming the first man to win the 250 and 500 championships in the same year. Defending champion Eddie Lawson finished in...
seasons.