Various mopeds — The history of imported mopeds in Finland

SPRING 2024 NEW BOOK OUT!

The driving license and registration requirement for mopeds was removed at the end of 1957. This led to a very rapid growth of the moped population. The moped became the first motor vehicle in many households, fulfilling the daily mobility needs of the adult population, especially in rural areas.

In 1958 and 1959, more than a hundred moped models, which were mainly imported models, were type-tested annually. The number of moped insurance plates was at its highest in 1967, when there were almost 470,000 of them in use. With the rise in the standard of living, Finland started to use cars and mopeds gradually became mainly a youth hobby. Olli J. Ojanen and Jussi Muotiala's book "Veteraanimopedit" was written about a quarter of a century ago.

Many editions have been taken from the book, one of which is an updated version, e.g. for color images. A lot of new information has become available on the subject and more and more recent moped models are becoming hobby objects. We ended up making a completely new book about veteran mopeds, which focuses on imported mopeds.

The moped legislation entered into force in Finland five years later than the major moped manufacturing countries. In these, the domestic demand was partly already met and the industry was looking for export destinations. Thus, at the end of the 1950s, a wide range of even rare imported moped models from different manufacturing countries came to Finland, which soon left the market when domestic factories got their production up and running. In the 1950s, the models sold before the moped legislation, which were registered as motorcycles at the time, brought variety to the moped stock. Strong demand also swept away so-called sailor and other gray imports. There is even more special equipment for veteran moped enthusiasts in our country.

Alfamer has published its own works from all three major domestic moped factories, which the new work complements. In these books (from Pappa-Tuntur to Tiger, Solifer - our moped and Mopoja ja Jopoja) domestic models have already been covered quite comprehensively. In addition to imported mopeds, the booklet also reviews mopeds from small Finnish factories (Pyrkijja, Kone ja Terä, OTTO and SUPO). Some of the moped models of these manufacturers were based directly on imported models, which were just renamed with a domestic brand. Moped brands and models are discussed by country of manufacture.

Like the Veteran moped book, the book also gives restoration instructions, tells about conservation and discusses the hobby of veteran mopeds in general. The appendix at the end also contains necessary numerical information on the subject. The book helps e.g. in determining the make and age of your veteran moped. There are also so-called exploded photos of moped engines.