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MILLON RIVIERA

147 - Solex 3800, MBK 1988 A Solex 3800 from MBK; manufactured in …
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Estimate €800 - €1,000
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Description
Solex 3800, MBK 1988 A Solex 3800 from MBK; manufactured in 1988, this is one of the very last models to roll off the production line at the Saint-Quentin factory in France. Although the registration document states the year 1986, the vehicle identification number, which also appears on the certificate of transfer, corresponds to a production run from the end of the model’s production run in the late 1980s, as the ANTS had recorded the date the model was first registered (1986). MBK (Motobécane), having recently come under Yamaha’s control, decided – following an upgrade to the Solex in 1986 – to cease production definitively during 1988. This Solex comes from the very last series intended for the general public. This was itself followed by a further hundred or so known as the ‘Nostalgie’ series (named after the famous radio station), produced specifically to be auctioned off, for the most part, by J.P. Foucault for the benefit of the ‘Restos du Cœur’, broadcast live on television at the time, including around ten reserved by the prestigious Cartier Foundation as part of an exhibition in partnership with ‘Nostalgie’.These included one gold-plated model, whilst the remainder were entrusted, for the event, to the artists César and Arman, who would transform them for their presentation. (Contemporary art, compression sculptures) This particular Solex marks the threshold of the period of history described, being among the very last units produced and intended for the consumer market. It should also be noted that Solex production in the 1988 financial year was negligible. The ‘Castellan, Rue Barla, Nice’ dealer decal is damaged but has been left as is to preserve its provenance. The Solex has undergone a complete engine overhaul, carried out to the highest standards by a former mechanic who worked on vehicles of this make. Runs beautifully with no mechanical faults. The rear wheel is rusted and the tyres have deteriorated due to years of storage; there are a few signs of wear but the overall cosmetic condition is good. High-performance engine, not yet fully broken in – will require running-in if used; a very promising machine. Sold with a statutory certificate of transfer for potential registration if used on public roads; in this case, insurance must be taken out, followed by an application for a roadworthiness test to complete the application for a vehicle registration certificate. (Rust and wear on the wheels; engine replaced).
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About the sale Collections & Estates of Nice: Summer Sale
Auction location
Auction time 07/09/2026 at 1:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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