7 Things You Didn’t Know About Puch Mopeds

When many people think of Puch, they think of mopeds known for their reliability that took Europe and many other parts of the world (including an oil crisis struck 1970s America) by storm.

But there are some lesser-known facts about Puch that not many people know about. For example:

• What is the most common Puch moped?
• What are Puch mopeds called in Sweden?
• Why is the Puch logo white and green?
• And did you know that Puch made a car?

#1: Where the company name “Puch” came from (and what they made at first)

The Puch company was founded in 1889 and named after its founder – Johann Puch:

And despite becoming known for their mopeds, they started out building bicycles.

#2: In Sweden, Puch Mopeds Are Named After American States

In most of the world, Puchs have two letters followed by a number that specifies the engine displacement. Some examples include:

• MV 50
• DS 50
• VZ 50

In Sweden, however, things are different. Here, Puchs are named after American states.

For example:

• MV 50 = “Puch Florida”
• DS 50 = “Puch Alabama”
• VZ 50 = “Puch Dakota” (arguably the most well-known Puch)

But wait – what about the Maxi?

Well, the Maxi’s an exception – I haven’t been able to find “Maxi, USA” anywhere on Google Maps or OsmAnd.

If you do know where it is, please let me know.

Speaking of the Maxi…

#3: The Puch Maxi Is The Most Common Puch moped

The Puch VZ 50 (or the “Dakota”) may be popular in some countries, but it’s NOT the most common Puch moped. That would be the Maxi.

In total – over 1.8 million Puch Maxis have been built. 

#4: The Puch Maxi Makes an Appearance in Spider-Man 2

You wouldn’t associate one of the most well-known superheroes with mopeds (much less one from Puch). However, in the movie Spider-Man 2 from 2004, one can be seen in the opening sequence.

In the opening, Peter Parker (played by Toby Maguire) rides a Puch Maxi S¹ – something which must have been terrifying to ride in the middle of New York City.

Especially when you have to go 42 blocks in 7 1/2 minutes to deliver 8 extra-large deep-dish pizzas:

#5: The Colors in the Puch Logo Represent the Town of Steyr

Have you ever wondered why the Puch logo is green and white?

It’s quite interesting – the badge shares the same colors as the Austrian town of Steyr, the headquarters of the Steyr conglomerate (which Puch was a part of).

That sounds a lot like another famous vehicle manufacturer many people know…

#6: Puch Made a Microcar

Known as the “Steyr Puch 500” (or the “Puchwagen”), the car was a rear-wheel-drive Fiat 500 city car built between 1957 and 1975, completely under license from Fiat.

The first models featured a 493cc 2-cylinder flat engine and a 4-speed gearbox, but later models had engines as large as 660ccs.

 #7: In America, the Puch SGS250 Motorcycle Became Known As The “Puch Twingle:”

Originally known as the Puch 250 SGS, the motorcycle had a 248cc split-cylinder engine, a 4-speed gearbox, and a top speed of 110 km/h (or 68 mph).

When Sears imported the 250 SGS to America, they named it the “Puch Twingle” (and sometimes, the “Allstate”).

I know what you’re thinking: “what does ‘twingle’ even mean?”

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “twingle” means “twist” or “wriggle.”

BONUS: There Was a Moped Magazine In Sweden Dedicated to Puch

During the 1960s and 1970s, Puch mopeds were so popular in Sweden that an entire magazine was dedicated to them.

“Puchjournalen” (literally “The Puch Journal”) was a magazine mainly targeted toward teenage riders 

Between 1971 and 1982, 20 issues were made and featured info about the latest Puch models, mechanical advice, and other moped-related tidbits.

If you’re interested in knowing more about this magazine, I have a series of blog posts that chronicle the entire Puchjournalen sage – from Issue 1 all the way to Issue 20.

What other interesting things do you know about Puch?

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