Zündapp was a German motorcycle manufacturer that existed from 1917 until its bankruptcy in 1984. Their advertising slogan was “Motorrades für jedermann” or “Motorcycles for everyone.” After WWII, the company moved from motorcycles and aircraft engines into scooters and smaller bikes, producing the Bella from 1953-1964.
The Zündapp Bella was heavily influenced by the Parilla Levriere. Where most scooters at the time had a flat footboard, both the Parilla and the Bella featured a small air tunnel along the center line of the scooter, allowing fresh air to cool the engine without a fan. The cowl access doors contained louvered vents, channeling hot air from the engine and transmission and also acted as style flourishes.
Characterized by a large front fender with a slim rear end, the Bella was encased in copious mounts of pressed steel bodywork that shielded the rider from both the engine and road grime and served as an aerodynamic aid. The R200 had a smoothed-out leg shield that presented its iconic Bella flower badge and a sophisticated Earles-type leading link fork with a shock absorber on the left side. It was also a very durable machine with a large-diameter tube frame arched over the engine. The double seat, wide, cast aluminum footboard and fold-down aluminum gridded passenger footboard could easily accommodate two people, while its larger 12 inch cast aluminum wheels (compared to the usual 8-10 inch of the times) offered a comfortable ride. The Bella also came with an oversized, two gallon gas tank, allowing long distance riding without stopping.
The Bella was offered in both 150cc and 200cc models. Zündapp sold about 130,000 examples of the Bella scooter (all series) between 1953 and 1964. After bankruptcy in 1984, the entire production line and intellectual properties were bought by Xunda Motor Co. in Tianjin, China. They produced small Zündapp motorcycles from 1987 till the early 1990s. They still produce Honda based 4-stroke motorcycles and electric mopeds, and haves recently collaborated with Royal Enfield in India to build mopeds and motorcycles.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Zündapp
Country of Origin: Germany
Engine: Air-cooled 200cc, single cylinder, 2 stroke, 10 hp
Transmission: 4-speed
Top Speed: 50 mph
Years of Production: 1954-55 (R200)
Number Produced: 27,000 (R200)
Original Cost: Unknown