[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by Stanher

I've heard of Pearl Yamahas but first time I'm seeing one i guess!

If the bike is mechanically still sound (engine free) and with papers, you can surely buy it. Good Luck!

Stanher I also saw pictures of a good and running, brown 1960's Pearl Yamaha on another thread. If I again come across it, I 'll inform by a posting here.

[dominator]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

It is the 65cc Pearl Yamaha, that was made in India between 1965 and 1971.An excellent, geared (foot operated gears)high-end moped, it came without a clutch. The cost was around Rs 3200 in 1967, matching the cost of the Vespa 150 (later Bajaj 150) and the Lambretta scooters. The factory was in Tamil Nadu and it collaborated with Yamaha of Japan.This is a pre 1970 model as the tail light chrome cover indicates. Later on, the tail light was fully of plastic (red).

If I remeber it right ? Pearl Yamahas were manufactured in Ludhiana ? Correct me if I am wrong ?

[trammway]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

It is the 65cc Pearl Yamaha, that was made in India between 1965 and 1971.An excellent, geared (foot operated gears)high-end moped, it came without a clutch. The cost was around Rs 3200 in 1967, matching the cost of the Vespa 150 (later Bajaj 150) and the Lambretta scooters. The factory was in Tamil Nadu and it collaborated with Yamaha of Japan.This is a pre 1970 model as the tail light chrome cover indicates. Later on, the tail light was fully of plastic (red).

Excellent Anjan. Thanks for that piece of information. It is a news that Yamahas were mfgd in Tamilnadu in those days.

I have seen a Bajaj 150 in mint condition last week put on sale. But never realized Bajaj and Yamaha were competing.

When I saw the tail lamp it reminded me of Suvega tail lamp, both are almost the same types.

Originally Posted by Stanher

I've heard of Pearl Yamahas but first time I'm seeing one i guess!
If the bike is mechanically still sound (engine free) and with papers, you can surely buy it. Good Luck!

Me too. Yes, the engine was in running condition. I could even start it on the same day when I took the pictures.

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

Stanher I also saw pictures of a good and running, brown 1960's Pearl Yamaha on another thread. If I again come across it, I 'll inform by a posting here.

Anjan, it will be great if you can post the pictures. I need to see how is the original side wings looked for this bike.

Initially when I saw the bike I thought i was Yezdi colt

[rjvora_2000]

Look to be in very nice condition still.
How much are you paying for this beauty?

[trammway]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

Stanher I also saw pictures of a good and running, brown 1960's Pearl Yamaha on another thread. If I again come across it, I 'll inform by a posting here.

Ok, I found it myself here in this u

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-1...-suvega-5.html

So, that means the moped didn't come with the plastic guard in the front, am I right ?

Originally Posted by rjvora_2000

Look to be in very nice condition still.
How much are you paying for this beauty?

I'm yet to negotiate and close the deal, as the bike is with my relative (who is a mechanic) for sure not going to go away from my hands.

[siddartha]

but why is it called "pearl" yamaha?

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by siddartha

but why is it called "pearl" yamaha?

Actually those days use of sole foreign brand names were discouraged by the Govt. But Lambretta,Vespa,Jawa, Fiat and Standard defy this contention and were incorporated at times (early 1950's till 1960) when the going was not so rough. Also the Indian -foreign partner used to have equity stakes, where it was mandatory for the Indian company to have a greater stake as compared to the foreign collaborator so as to stay dominant in the company. Hence Pearl was the Indian company (never heard about it later) which made these mopeds with a Yamaha collaboration.
The hangover continued even until the 1990's so we have Rajdoot RD350 (Yamaha was nowhere in the original bike in 1984),DCM Daewoo,DCM Toyota (for mini- trucks in the early 1980's),PAL Peugeot,Swaraj Mazda and so on.
Today 100% equity investment by a foreign company to make automobiles is allowed and Hyundai MIL, Yamaha,Honda Motor and Scooters India Ltd,are living examples.

[anjan_c2007]

[quote=trammway;1137300]Ok, I found it myself here in this u

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-1...-suvega-5.html

So, that means the moped didn't come with the plastic guard in the front, am I right ?


no trammway, the Pearl Yamaha had original factory fitted, leg guards of smoky grey colour, much like our Bajaj M80.But these leg guards came as OE only 2-3 years after the product was introduced.

[trammway]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

no trammway, the Pearl Yamaha had original factory fitted, leg guards of smoky grey colour, much like our Bajaj M80.But these leg guards came as OE only 2-3 years after the product was introduced.

Is there any chances of getting pictures of those bikes with leg guard?

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by trammway

Is there any chances of getting pictures of those bikes with leg guard?

I'll try for it but cannot assure. These mopeds were not advertised at all-maybe all those produced were selling well. But it did not have any waiting lists like the 1960's Vespa 150(ten to fifteen years) or the Lambretta Li150 (seven to ten years), its contemporaries.

[TuffRyder]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

I'll try for it but cannot assure. These mopeds were not advertised at all-maybe all those produced were selling well. But it did not have any waiting lists like the 1960's Vespa 150(ten to fifteen years) or the Lambretta Li150 (seven to ten years), its contemporaries.

Wow!! People waited so long to get their scoots? Probably the used scoots sold for a premium then.

[trammway]

Originally Posted by TuffRyder

Wow!! People waited so long to get their scoots? Probably the used scoots sold for a premium then.

I heard the same from a senior citizen who owns a Bajaj 150. He said he was waiting for 2 years to get his hand on the Bajaj 150 which is of the same era.

Here is the pic of Bajaj 150, which the person wanted to sell now as he cannot handle the weight. Single owner with all the paper current ;-) Though he quoted high for the scooter.

[gendarmee]

Originally Posted by TuffRyder

Wow!! People waited so long to get their scoots? Probably the used scoots sold for a premium then.

Yep.
Was easier to get hands on a scooter if one had got a good ranking army friend!

[gendarmee]

Lamby Booked in 1959, got delivered in 1967. Wasn't needed then so was sold off at 1000 over the CP.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by TuffRyder

Wow!! People waited so long to get their scoots? Probably the used scoots sold for a premium then.

The Vespa 150 commanded premiums of upto Rs 2000, whereas the Lambretta commanded upto Rs 1500 premiums till the late 1960's.The on -road price of these scooters were Rs 3200 or so.Come the early 1970's (1971 it was the Bajaj150) and the premiums shot upto Rs 3000 to Rs 3500.The on road price went up to Rs 4500 and later crossed Rs 5000.The Jawa 250 (Yezdi by 1973) was the young and young at heart's favourite two wheeler and had an on road price of Rs 5100 and its waiting list was for a few months.
So it was not unusual to see dealer showroom personnel behaving like government office personnel, ill-treating customers who would periodically flock to find their position in the waiting list.
The Fiat 1100 D (In 1972 it became Premier President) in the late 1960's cost Rs 19000 odd and also had upto five year waiting lists and premiums of Rs 5000 whereas the Ambassador cost Rs 21000 and had one or two year waiting lists. The Standard Herald cost Rs 17000 odd in 1969 and also had a upto one year waiting list.
Come the oil shock of 1973 and demand for Premier Padminis increased and so the waiting list and premium.
Yes there were quotas for defence canteens (Canteen Stores Department, CSD), government servants and even the CM's and Ministers quota, where leaders would gift a scooter to journalists who toed their lines.After defence service or government officials retired, their names would be struck off the waiting list in cases their delivery did not materialise till they retired.