Sign in

Private company

Tehuelche

Brand

Tehuelche was an Argentine motorcycle that was produced between March 1957 and 1964. The Tehuelche was the only motorcycle that was mass-produced continuously in Argentina, where it was produced for seven years.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

See how the biggest companies compare on our leaderboards

Tehuelche modelo 1960
Photo: Joarobles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Tehuelche was an Argentine motorcycle that was produced between March 1957 and 1964.2

Products and brands

Manufacture

Raffaldi and Fattorini, along with several other partners, started mass-producing the Tehuelche. They raised the engine capacity to 75 cc to enter a new market category. This first partnership barely lasted two years, during which just over 1,200 motorcycles were produced.

Raffaldi and Fattorini started another partnership with new members, continuing production until the middle of 1964. This partnership secured importation rights for Italian Legnano motorcycles and manufactured approximately 3,500 motorcycles, bringing the total number of Tehuelches ever produced to almost 5,000.

The models

In its almost seven years of manufacture, some of the colors and the decals of the Tehuelche were changed.

In 1962, two models were produced: the Sport and the Super Sport, the latter bearing a speedometer. In addition, since the second partnership had the right to import Legnano motorcycles from Italy, they introduced a model of the Tehuelche called the “Legnano,” hoping to increase sales.

Read the full text

This model appeared on the market with a different gas tank and painted red and white. Finally, in 1964, toward the end of production, the camshaft that had been driven by gears was changed to a chain drive camshaft.

End of production

In 1964, Raffaldi and Fattorini decided to abandon the Tehuelche. Hyperinflation and government instability in Argentina made it difficult for them to continue.

From Wikipedia’s article on Tehuelche (motorcycle), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4