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An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer
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Montesa's sales were very good throughout the summer months but they sold little the rest of the year. As a result the company diversified into other products including washing machines , which they manufactured until 1970. Pere Permanyer was a very well organised man who ran a strong company , based upon quality and structure. Often in the past Montesa had found it difficult to raise credit as they had only small premises to secure loans upon. The building of the new Esplugues factory solved this problem.
An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
I'm always interested to know about where the factories are and what they were like to work. Were there any bad accidents at the factory ?
The only big accident that I remember is when one member of staff tested one of the bikes outside of a factory and he died, but not inside the factory.
The only big accident that I remember is when one member of staff tested one of the bikes outside of a factory and he died, but not inside the factory.
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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The are many famous people who have ridden Montesa over the years, but I just want to ask you whether you ever met John Wayne ?
No no, but I do have a photograph of John Wayne wearing a Montesa jacket. I do remember that my father sent a motorcycle to Neil Armstrong.
Let's go and sit up stairs because my back is not very good these days and there is less noise
You were going to tell me about the Neil Armstrong connection ?
No no, but I do have a photograph of John Wayne wearing a Montesa jacket. I do remember that my father sent a motorcycle to Neil Armstrong.
Let's go and sit up stairs because my back is not very good these days and there is less noise
You were going to tell me about the Neil Armstrong connection ?
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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Yes, my father was always interested in technological progress and was particularly interested in the USA sending the man to the moon. I still remember sitting down with my father in the sitting room of our house watching the pictures of Neil Armstrong stepping out of the spaceship onto the moon surface, he was very impressed with this and business in the United States was very good, so we decided to get a motorcycle to Neil Armstrong.
An exclusive interview with Montesa's Jordi Permanyer www.retrotrials.com
The motorcycle was placed at the home of Neil Armstrong ready for when he returned back home from space. When Neil Armstrong came back home he received and accepted the bike and made one picture that he sent to my father saying thank you. The only photo we have from Mr. Armstrong is the attached one. Is dedicated from him to my father.
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 your father a workaholic and never stopping working ?
All the time, yes yes yes, this is exactly what he is like when he comes home he brings work home with him and even on Sunday he is working and on holidays also. My father had this Ariel motorcycle when he was very young before the Civil War. I also had the cota 123 in addition to this we had a second house in the mountains where he keeps this cota. My father also had a montesa Texas. I was seven or eight years of age when Mr Bulto left Montesa to form Bultaco motorcycles.
All the time, yes yes yes, this is exactly what he is like when he comes home he brings work home with him and even on Sunday he is working and on holidays also. My father had this Ariel motorcycle when he was very young before the Civil War. I also had the cota 123 in addition to this we had a second house in the mountains where he keeps this cota. My father also had a montesa Texas. I was seven or eight years of age when Mr Bulto left Montesa to form Bultaco motorcycles.
Of course Mr Pere Permanyer worked very hard , but you will see in a later photo that he could also let his hair down.In the photo beneath Pere is sitting with his wife Rosa. He is also seen presenting a service medal to Pere Pi.
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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