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An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer
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So it sounds like Montesa make pretty much everything themselves unlike most manufacturers in those days and especially today ?
Yes yes this is for sure, Montesa made all of the parts for the motorcycles.
Yes yes this is for sure, Montesa made all of the parts for the motorcycles.
Did Montesa have a foundry for making aluminium parts ?
Yes yes, we made everything, engine, complete suspensions, front and rear, we have a press to make the chassis and also to make metal petrol tanks, everything we make, everything apart from electrical parts.
So, when you started working for Montesa, was Esplugues actually there, operational ?
Yes yes, we made everything, engine, complete suspensions, front and rear, we have a press to make the chassis and also to make metal petrol tanks, everything we make, everything apart from electrical parts.
So, when you started working for Montesa, was Esplugues actually there, operational ?
The Esplugues factory operated from 1962 to 2000. Montesa's business vision and mantra was that everything was produced by them , on site and this is exactly what happened. Where Bultaco were contracting out a great deal of work , Montesa made everything apart from the electric side of the product. Esplugues expanded to include more premises on the boundaries of the site .The paint shop was top left. To the right was the competition department.
An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
Yes yes. The factories that made the moped and that made the gears, was in San Feliu de Llobregat. These factories have now disappeared and they have been replaced with houses. Also, the engine factory was in San Bou de Llobregat.
Did your father stay with the company until the end ?
Yes, but at the time of the conversations with the Japanese he had retired.
Did your father stay with the company until the end ?
Yes, but at the time of the conversations with the Japanese he had retired.
An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
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An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
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Was he physically well or ill when he retired ?
No, he was not ill , only retired , but he was always in the background being very active and giving advice. My father died in 1987.
Were you involved with the overall management of Montesa ?
Yes. I was a member of the directional committee which manage the overall company, the actual president of Montesa at the time was my brother-in-law, Mr Canellas, he was married to my sister. At this time of the negotiations with the Japanese, he took the responsibility for this.
No, he was not ill , only retired , but he was always in the background being very active and giving advice. My father died in 1987.
Were you involved with the overall management of Montesa ?
Yes. I was a member of the directional committee which manage the overall company, the actual president of Montesa at the time was my brother-in-law, Mr Canellas, he was married to my sister. At this time of the negotiations with the Japanese, he took the responsibility for this.
Mr Canellas in the centre of Pere Permanyer and Ulf Karlsson was the Director General of Montesa.
An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.comAn exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.comAn exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.comAn exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.comAn exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
Do you think, in your opinion, that Montesa was forced to have to make negotiations with Honda ?
An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
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An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
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Well, the economical situations with Montesa at this time were very bad. In the best times we produced 30000 units but at the time of the negotiations we are only producing 5000 units a year, so it was impossible for the company to continue in its present state.