Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon Motorcycles Silver Pigeon 1946—1963
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Production | 1946—1963 |
| Predecessor | Salsbury Motor Glide |
| Class | Scooter |
| Engine | 112 cm3 (6.8 cu in) 4-stroke, SV air-cooled, single-cylinder |
| Bore / stroke | 57 mm × 44 mm (2.2 in × 1.7 in) |
| Power | 1.5 hp (1.1 kW) at 3500 rpm |
| Transmission | Automatic belt-type CVT |
| Tires | 3.50-7 (rear) |
| Wheelbase | 935 mm (36.8 in) |
| Dimensions | L: 1,550 mm (61 in) W: 560 mm (22 in) H: 1,010 mm (40 in) |
| Weight | 70 kg (150 lb) (dry) |
The Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon is a series of scooters made in Japan by Mitsubishi between 1946 and 1963.
The first was the C-10, based on a scooter imported from the United States by Koujiro Maruyama, which began production at the Nagoya Machinery Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Along with the Mizushima three-wheeler pickup truck it represented Mitsubishi's first contributions to the Japanese post-war personal transport boom The Silver Pigeon's primary competitor was the Fuji Rabbit (and in 1954, the Honda Juno) Motor scooters were so important to the post-war vehicle industry that In May 1948 both a Silver Pigeon and a Rabbit were presented to the Emperor of Japan The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (in Japanese) lists the Silver Pigeon C-10 model introduced in 1946 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive TechnologyThe Silver Pigeon proved sufficiently successful to remain in production for almost twenty years. Motor Cyclist magazine voted it "best in styling" for three consecutive years in the 1950s, a decade after its introduction, while from 1950 to 1964 it maintained an average 45 percent share of the domestic scooter market. American retailer Montgomery Ward imported the Silver Pigeon and sold it via their catalog under the Riverside captive import brand. By the time production came to an end in 1963 over 463,000 had been manufactured, with the 1960 C-200 proving the most popular individual model, with almost 38,000 sales.
Pictured 1962 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon
Long before European countries, the Japanese began mass producing scooters in 1946 and by the time others began, the Mitsubishi company were already exporting to the USA their Silver Pigeon range of models. Some, depending on the importer, under the name “Riverside” over 35,000 machines reached the shores of the United States. In their production run nearly half a million Silver Pigeons rolled off the assembly lines and so important was their impact on the remobilization of Japan a special machine was presented to the Emperor of Japan in recognition of the commercial success. The marque represented nearly half the market share. Eventually around 1964 the Japanese economy improved and the company turned their attentions to automobiles and still remain strong today.
The NZCM example is somewhat unusual in that it is powered by a 200cc four stroke engine and designated the model C-76 from 1962. The automatic transmission makes it easy to ride and it is good for 70kmph which is plenty for the small 8 inch tires. Most C-76 models had a single seat and a baggage compartment behind the rider for deliveries and such like as the engine was strong enough to carry a lot of weight. This Silver Pigeon scooter is a good example of quality Japanese construction and reliability at a competitive price, a trend that has continued until today.
Silver Pigeons were developed and refined over a 20 year life span.
TECHNICAL
- 200cc four stroke engine. 65mm X 58mm bore and stroke.
- 115kgs weight.
- Automatic transmission continuous vee belt drive.
- 10 inch wheels.
| Year | Model | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | C-10 | NE10 112 cc, 1.5 PS |
| 1948 | C-11 | |
| 1950 | C-25 | |
| 1953 | C-26 | |
| 1955 | C-57 | 192 cc single-cylinder engine |
| 1955 | C-70 | 125 cc two-stroke |
| 1957 | C-90 | 200 cc |
| 1958 | C-93 | 210 cc |
| 1960 | C-111 | 210 cc four-stroke |
| 1960 | C-200 | 125 cc two-stroke |
| 1960 | C-300 | 125 cc two-stroke |
| 1960 | C-76 | 192 cc four-stroke |
| 1960 | C-110 | 175 cc |
| 1960 | C-300 | 125 cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine |
| 1961 | C-110 | 175 cc four-stroke, 8.3 hp |
| 1963 | C-140 | 125 cc two-stroke twin cylinder engine, 8 hp, three-speed transmission, 143 kg |
| 1963 | C-240 | 143 cc two-stroke twin cylinder engine, 9.2 hp, three-speed transmission, 143 kg |