I remember for instance the case of Bultaco and Ossa, they both took very big risks exporting to the USA, 60 or 70% of the production, when the USA market came down they have very big problems. Because of this, Montesa was always keeping the USA exports to more than 40%, this was a condition of a company and a way the company decided it wanted to run, it was one of the company rules. We didn't want to be too heavily dependent on one country.
Looking back, what was the biggest challenge of running the factory ?
Looking back, what was the biggest challenge of running the factory ?
I cannot say it was a very complicated, organisation, producing every part that I told you before. Motorcycles are not a stable form of production, the demand always goes up and down and you have to follow this in the factory. The company was always having to take countermeasures to closely watch demand and predict models that might be of interest even in different months of the year. This was one of the more difficult aspects of motorcycle production. We have to ensure that we didn't have huge stockpiles of motorcycles that we couldn't sell and at the same time had to make sure that the models selling well could be replaced in the dealerships with a brand new bikes.
Did you ever meet Steve McQueen ?
No, I did not but he was friends with the United States division of Montesa motorcycles. This was Kim Kimble and Dan Gurney. I met them many times. Dan Gurney was a racing driver in the USA.
No, I did not but he was friends with the United States division of Montesa motorcycles. This was Kim Kimble and Dan Gurney. I met them many times. Dan Gurney was a racing driver in the USA.
Dan Gurney was the partner in the United States with Kim Kimble they ran the USA importership. Kim Kimble was a friend of Steve McQueen and Paul Newman also and I remember that Paul Newman would ride Montesa sometimes.
Montesa are obviously famous for making lots of Motorcycles, but they also made other products as well.
Montesa are obviously famous for making lots of Motorcycles, but they also made other products as well.
Did they make them at the same time ?
I worked on motorcycles always. The making of other products was at another time before and another time in the history of the company. Yes they made many agricultural products and refrigerators and outboard motors for boats. My father was always looking for alternative products he had a skilled workforce. I could make many things and they weren't just restricted to make a motorcycles and sell some of them helped to make these other products, which also sold well and brought the Company more revenue. The company also made of static engine, but we only made the prototypes for these, we did not sell these. We also of course made cycles with Montesita.
I worked on motorcycles always. The making of other products was at another time before and another time in the history of the company. Yes they made many agricultural products and refrigerators and outboard motors for boats. My father was always looking for alternative products he had a skilled workforce. I could make many things and they weren't just restricted to make a motorcycles and sell some of them helped to make these other products, which also sold well and brought the Company more revenue. The company also made of static engine, but we only made the prototypes for these, we did not sell these. We also of course made cycles with Montesita.