Motobecane - Mobylette AV3 1952

AV31 model from 1952. The Mobylette AV3 was first built in 1949. Mobylette, in its many variations, proved to be the company's biggest succes: during two decades of production over 14 milions units were sold. The market for Mobylette had begun to decline in late 60s, when cars became affordable. The early AV3 mobylette had an exhaust manifold that comes out the side of the engine, and small fuel tank (compare: AV3 1954). AV3's bicycle frame was copied by the Raleigh Runabout in later years.