Original late-production example.

SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Charles Mochet

Origin: Puteaux, France

Production: 1,120

Motor: Ydral 1-cyl, 2-stroke

Displacement: 125 cc

Power: 5 hp

Length: 8 ft. 9 in.

Identification No. 4616

Despite solid sales, it was clear that the 3.5 horsepower Zurcher motor used by Mochet since 1947 had run its course, and beginning in 1952, an alternative Ydral motor could be had on the Luxe, Grand Luxe, and Commerciale models. This widely-used, reliable motor was the French equivalent of Villiers or Sachs. The attractive Grand Luxe, with its pontoon-style body, was a success, and Mochet used it as an inspiration for a new model introduced in December 1954, which was called the CM-125Y (for Ydral) Berline Découvrable.

This enclosed car had doors with framed sliding side windows and a canvas roof, which was fixed to the body at the rear and able to be folded back at the front. It continued with the Grand Luxe style grille with its aluminum strips, later to be replaced by a metal insert. It also continued with the perforated wheels, in which the slots were soon replaced by circular holes and, finally, by solid disc wheels. The Ydral motor was available alternatively in the 175-cubic centimeter size, for which a license was required, and both versions had an electric starter. This original, unrestored example features the grille and solid wheels of the later cars.