What we have here is a Puch 200 motorcycle built in 1939.

I bought this Puch 200 over 12 years ago and I have never ridden it on the road as I bought it to be included into my static collection of unusual motorcycles of the 1920's & 1930's.

This Puch 200 was running fine the last time I started it, which was a few years ago. I would recommend this motorcycle be thoroughly serviced before it was run again. The engine has got a spark.

The general condition is quite good as can be seen in the photographs.

If you have any questions, please feel free ask BEFORE you place a bid.

This is for COLLECTION ONLY.

I am happy to meet up with any potential buyer at a Militaria Fair in the South or at an acceptable / convenient mid-way point.

This Puch motorcycle could be easily transported to the "Overlord" Military Show being held in Denmead, Hampshire over the Bank Holiday week-end at the 25th, 26th & 27th of May 2024.

Message me through eBay and let me know your thoughts and we can take it from there.

I am open to a serious offer, let me know your thoughts. Message me through eBay.

COLLECTION ONLY.

The Buyer, if they choose to, can arrange a Courier Collection. All costs and expenses are the responsibility of the buyer. 

Please Note:

This listing is set for the UK Sales only.  Overseas Bidders are welcome to make contact..

The Puch 200 motorcycle was manufactured by Puch, in Graz Austria.

At the time this motorcycle was built, Austria had been annexed into the 'German Reich'.

In the early 1930's Puch were looking at the potential sales market and trying to gauge what they could produce that would be a "good seller". At that time it was possible to ride a motorcycle without a Driving License if the motorcycle had an engine size of 200cc or less.

Puch decided to build a motorcycle that would suit that market. To help keep production costs down they went with a pressed steel frame, similar to Zundapp motorcycles.

The Puch 200 motorcycle has an engine with an unusual design. It is a split-single with 2 pistons and 'Y' shaped conrod running on the same crankpin (see photo's). The engine is sat in the frame transversely (see photos). 

The split-single engine the Puch 200 has, was originally designed by Italian engineer Giovani Marcellino in 1923.

It is said, that in 1923 Giovanni Marcellino had been sent by the Banks to wind up the Puch factory in Graz. Instead of which, within a few weeks he had settled down to live in the town, designing and then producing a new version of the split-single. Taking his inspiration from industrial counter piston engines, the new engine benefited from the improved breathing of the original design, to which Marcellino added asymmetric port timing and the two pistons one behind the other, for better cylinder filling and a longer power stroke.. In 1931 Puch won the German Motorcycle Grand Prix with a supercharged split-single, though in subsequent years the split-singles of DKW did better.

When Puch marketed the Puch 200, is was promoted as the "Volks Motorrad" (Peoples Motorcycle) and was also called the "Volks-Model".

I guess they may have borrowed the marketing idea from the promotors of the "Volkswagen" (Peoples Car).

The production run went from 1936 through to 1940 and they built a total of 9,585.

Although these Puch 200 were originally produced for the civilian market, as the war clouds started to gather. Germany and some other European Countries began to reequip their Armies with more modern equipment and these Puch were favoured as a low cost modern motorcycle suitable for military use. The Puch 200 was used by the German Wehrmacht during WW2.

Interestingly, Puch have always managed to produce motorcycle with some unusual engine configurations.

I always thought, it was as though the guys in the design team went to the pub on a Friday night and during the nights heavy drinking session, came up with some strange ideas for an engine design. Then on Monday morning, put these ideas into production .

I used to have a collection of motorcycle with unusual engine configurations / layouts. This Puch 200 was in my collection because of that.

I am now reducing my collection, so it is being offered for sale.

To reiterate, the general condition of the Puch is as can be seen in the photographs. It could do some attention to the finishing detail, the only major issue is that it is missing the front cover that would enclose the electrics on the front of the engine. (see the last  photo).

The Puch did run when I bought it and it hasn't been run it for a few years. Because of that, it would be a good idea to give it a recommissioning service before it is run again.

I had this Puch motorcycle purely as a static display piece in my collection of  motorcycles with unusual engine cylinder configurations.

It has always been stored in a dry garage.

Thanks for looking, good luck with the bidding.

Please have a good look at the photographs as these form part of the description.