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 Ultima - 330 type A
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Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
8110

Capacity : 330
Model : type A
Production : 1923 -
Category : (R) Street Bike

ULTIMA

330 Type A ·1923

A living fossil

The Ultima marque could trace its origins back to 1908, when Eugene Billion began building engines for Deronziere and its subsidiaries, although he did not put his name anywhere on these power units.

Birth of a Marque

The name Ultima appeared until the 1920s, on a bike with a fixed-speed belt-drive, and an inclined cylinder with fins that ran parallel to the ground. Inspired by the Deronziere, this first Ultima became known as "Type A."

The "All-Ultima" Policy

Mindful of the need to produce an inexpensive bike, so as not to compete with the war urplus military machines, Billion made everything in his workshops, including the carburetor and oil pump. The only exceptions to this rule were the tires, saddle and magneto. But low-cost production did not mean low quality. Ultima used the best metal, sound castings and careful machining. Thanks to the strong torque of its engine and a multi-plate clutch, the Type A earned a good reputation as a reliable machine and a good hill-climber. Caring little for technical fashion, Billion was reluctant to change the Type A. In 1923, the displacement was cut from 404cc (70x105mm) to 332cc (65x100mm). At the time of the 1924 Salon, new finning at right angles were added to the cylinder, along with a new gas tank and chain primary transmission. Finally, a new bore and stroke (67x99mm) brought the displacement to 348cc in 1928. The Type A was catalogued until 1929, still with belt-drive and clincher tires!

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 332cc (65x100mm) air-cooled singlecylinder four-stroke; total-loss lubrication by semi-automatic Ultima pump; France magneto ignition

Valves: side

Fuel System: Ultima carburetor with extra air control

Transmission: multi-plate clutch controlled from handlebars; belt drive with manual tensioner

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

Brakes: belt rim (rear)

Wheels: 2.55x24 inch clincher (front & rear)

Weight: 143 lb

Maximum Speed: 44 mph

 

While the Ultima was up-to-date in 1922 because of its clutch, by 1929 it had become a living fossil that only sold because of its low cost.




Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.