1929 | Condor Grand Sport 512

The barn find described here in original paint is a Condor Grand Sport 512, a type which appeared for the first time in January 1929. This model was the successor of the Grand Sport 511 and differed visually mainly in the tank shape which had now given way to a saddle tank. The Condor factory books give the delivery date of this Condor Grand Sport 512 as February 22, 1929. Thus this is one of the very early 512s. The buyer of the motorcycle was the motorcycle dealer Balma, who used it to serve his customers living in Martigny (Canton Valais).

The Condor Grand Sport 512 is powered by a 350 cc, single-cylinder, head-controlled (OHV) MAG engine which interacts with a 3-speed transmission and is believed to be the original unit: The 350 cc engine with number 300450 is the 450th example of this size which was built by Condor in a modular system over all 350 cc models in 1929. Thus it is an early engine from the year 1929 what is exact with the delivery date. Furthermore the primary chain case as well as the gearbox are correct and also the carburetor follows this impression. Furthermore there is an original Alpha Le Locle speedo with angle drive and the ignition magneto with strapped on alternator was completely rebuilt by Wolfang Osterhaus (Meisterbetrieb Oldtimerelektrik). The headlight is probably a Bosch product according to the headlight glass. With the exception of a few parts, the machine is complete. The engine turns, the primary housing is free of cracks or holes and the chain case without damage.

The paint is still the original paint. This, together with the high originality of relevant components such as engine and transmission make this Condor Grand Sport a very rare and therefore interesting contemporary. If about 1500 pieces of the model Grand Sport were produced over all types, only a few might have survived the ravages of time. A look at the statistics of the Federal Office for Roads and Traffic ASTRA shows only 7 Condor Grand Sport 512 on Swiss roads over the last 5 years. A few more are probably still in collections and barns. The number of aircraft still in their original livery can be counted on one hand.

Condor-Werke AG was one of the largest Swiss manufacturers of motorcycles and bicycles with a production history of over a hundred years. At times, the company even acted as an outfitter for the Swiss army.

The story began in 1893 when the Frenchman Edouard Scheffer founded a machine tool factory for watchmaking tools in Courfaivre, now in the Jura region, near Delémont and on the banks of the Sorne River. At the turn of the century, the company was reorganized in response to the advent of internal combustion engines and the opportunities they offered, and it was decided to develop a first motorcycle under the direction of Otto Fricker. The engines were purchased for this purpose and their performance also gradually increased. The longevity of these early motorcycles established the good reputation of the company and it was also at this time that it was decided to change the company name to Condor-Werke AG and adopt the Condor as the company logo.

Despite the scarcity of resources during the First World War, the company managed to maintain production, which allowed it to benefit from the strong demand for smaller and light motorcycles in the post-war period, as these models were in line with the company's philosophy. This development was also accompanied by an impressive series of racing successes in the interwar years, especially in the 250 cc and 350 cc classes. The engines were still bought in each case, with the company M.A.G. - the Motosacoche Acacias Genève - rising to become the actual court supplier for Condor. M.A.G. itself was also a Swiss company and successfully built built-in engines for an international clientele at the time. This interwar period also saw the introduction of the Grand Sport model, starting in 1927. As the name suggests, the Grand Sport appealed to a sporty clientele and was available until 1940 with 350 cc or 500 cc in two engine sizes.