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Tohatsu






Tohatsu




The Tokyo Hatsudoki Co. tried to keep up with the bigger Japanese motorcycle campanies by going into racing. The first Tohatsu racer was a moped- derived single named Runpet CR. In 62 came the first commercially available 50 twin, the CA50, and even somewhat fragile it was a winner. Driven by Dave and Mike Simmonds in the season of 63, the factory expected more of 64, but the Tohatsu factory closed down due to financial problem.
61 Tohatsu Runpet CRTohatsu single
Runpet Runpet right
The Simmond brothers were given an engine and built this racer round it. It was fast enough to set a sprint record.
Dave and Mike Simmonds and Tohatsu special Late 62 - Tohatsu twin
Tohatsu competed against these thoroughbreds - with a piston- ported engine ? Tohatsu engine left
63 Tohatsu engine right 63 Brands Hatch - winner Dave Simmonds - Tohatsu Twin
CA50 left CA50 aircooled twin
CA50 right Tohatsu twin
The Tohatsu displayed in Lexmond Motormuseum - Go visit !! Göran Kähler holding a 64 Tohatsu engine
64 Tohatsu Göran Kähler testing
CA2R Tohatsu CA2R racer
CA2R controls CA2R engine
Simmonds - Tohatsu and Claude Vigreux - Kreidler.