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The moped is making a comeback! A symbol of freedom when it appeared in the 50s, it is very trendy again. Some seek to modernize it to continue to keep the brand alive.
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Iconic two-wheelers whose name immediately recalls the 60s. The mopedwhich had almost disappeared, was reborn from its ashes. It even has its electric version. During a walk, his sixties are 14 years old again. At the sound of the engines, a toothy firecracker. At the head of this procession of nostalgic people, Gilles Mazou, recently retired: “It’s freedom, the moped. When there’s a whole gang, it’s fun. And then, people look at us, they like having old mopeds.“
Passionate about mobs, he has been collecting them for over ten years. All the colors, all the models, all the years, he has around thirty. One by one, he gives them a facelift, restores them to good condition. Because these pieces are increasingly popular. To find them, he searches the Internet morning and evening, but he is no longer the only one: “I bought on average between 100 and 200 euros and now they are no longer worth 1000 euros. I have about ten that I would like, but it’s a fortune now. But I’ll get there anyway.“
The mob, back in fashion? From the 1950s, bicycles invaded the streets. Any teenager worth their salt must have their 50 cc. Nearly 15 million were sold in 50 years. No question of leaving the mob in the archives. Jacky Thoonsen, entrepreneur, wants to bring it up to date. A modern version that, at first glance, looks like an electric bike. But there are always the double headlights, the throttle, of course, to drive at 45 km/h. But no more thermal engine, make way for electric: “Where there was the fuel tank, obviously, it smoked a lot and it still polluted a lot, now it’s the place to put a very nice battery. This way, there is no more pollution.“
The legendary brand was no longer used. Jacky Thoonsen bought it for 600 euros. A childhood dream: “Being the owner of a brand as iconic as Mobylette puts pressure.“Its models, priced around 4,000 euros, will be marketed in a few months. It remains to be seen whether purists will embrace modernity.
