NOUGIER / MAGNAT-DEBON

500 CCP I Jacques Onda -1936

A home made twin-cam

This unique bike started life as a 1936 Magnat-Debon 500 CCP, with a four-bearing crank and overhead valves. But at the end of 1936, Magnat-Debon works rider Jacques Onda entrusted his CCP to master tuner Jean Nougier, who had already created a twin-cam 175cc racer for Magnat. Nougier simply replaced the valves and pushrods of Onda's

CCP with a train of pinions driving twin overhead camshafts.

More Powerful, More Reliable

The effect was startling: Onda's CCP was not only more reliable, but also gained an extra 1000 rpm and could exceed 105 mph on the brew of gasoline and benzol that was the standard racing fuel of the day. This bike made its debut in the "Grand Prix de LÂ’Exposition" in 1937, and proved to be faster than the overhead-valve Terrot works racers. It was the death knell for the Terrot team, which was dissolved after this bitter defeat.

Sisters under the Skin

Since the takeover of Magnat-Debon by Terrot in 1927, the models produced by the two marques had differed only in the logo on the tank, though their sales networks and racing organizations had fiercely guarded their independence. The twin Magnat-Debon CCP and Terrot RCP racing models of 1932-37 were bitter rivals. Fragile but fast, the CCP and RCP were closely related to the C and R sports versions of the sister marques. Modified in 1934 by the addition of a fourth main bearing, the RCP was finally updated in 1936 with a magnesium crankcase and a fivebolt fixing for the cylinder.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 499cc (84x90mm) air-cooled singlecylinder four-stroke

Power Rating: maximum power @ 7200 rpm

Valves: twin overhead camshafts driven by pinions

Fuel System: Arnal carburetor

Transmission: Terrot 4-speed; chain final drive

Suspension: girder forks (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: wire (front & rear)

Maximum Speed: 105 mph

Over 40 years after be created this unique Magnat-Debon racer, jean Nougier is pictured riding his 500 CCP at an historic race meeting

Much more info on all the Nougiers racing bikes, in the book « Nougier, 1932-1972 – Le rêve français Â» by François-Marie Dumas (Text in french only)

Click here to download the purchase order.