The Tomos Colibri was the first family of mopeds to carry a Tomos name of its own, built as numerous variants of the licensed Puch MS 50 from the late 1950s. The name stayed in use for decades, through the T 12 that became the most popular moped in Slovenia and the 14V with the company’s first engine of its own design.
Tomos Colibri at a glance
| Maker | Tomos, Koper |
|---|---|
| Based on | Puch MS 50 |
| First models | late 1950s |
| Early marks | VS 50, then 01–013 |
| Output in 1959 | more than 17,000 Colibris |
| Best known type | type 12; T 12 first shown in 1961 |
| Engines | Puch units until the Colibri 14V with a Tomos engine |
| Later models | T-03, T-12, T-13 with Puch engines; 14V; 15 |
| Export | first major contract, to Sweden, signed in 1959 |
| Origin of the design | Puch MS 50 licence production |
History of the Tomos Colibri
From Puch licence to own models
In the late 1950s Tomos produced numerous variants of the Puch MS 50 under the common name Colibri. The first Colibris were marked VS 50; later marks ranged from 01 to 013, and individual variants were adapted to foreign markets. In 1959 Tomos built more than 17,000 Colibris and signed a contract for its first major export, to Sweden.
Among the most successful Colibris was the type 12, while its version Colibri T 12, first presented in 1961, became the most popular moped in Slovenia. The Dutch development team was also responsible for the introduction of Colibri models, together with the later Targa and Revival.
The 1970s Colibris
Several new Colibri models reached the market in the 1970s. The Colibris T-03, T-12 and T-13 still had Puch engines, while the Colibri 14V used an engine produced by Tomos to its own design. After 1973 all motorcycles and motor-assisted bicycles made by Tomos were fitted with in-house engines. In the same period Tomos developed the Colibri 15 with a stronger engine that could almost compete with motorcycles.
The Colibri name also lived on in the APN line: the earliest APN 4s of the 1970s, such as the Colibri A-0S and A-0N, carried Puch-designed frames, fuel tanks and front forks with a headlamp, and still had pedals.
Design and features
- Puch foundation: the Colibri was built as a family of variants of the licensed Puch MS 50.
- Marking system: the first bikes were VS 50; later versions were numbered from 01 to 013.
- Market adaptation: individual Colibri variants were prepared for different export countries.
- T 12 popularity: the T 12 of 1961 became the most popular moped in Slovenia.
- First own engine: the Colibri 14V of the 1970s used a Tomos-designed engine.
Tomos Colibri versions
- VS 50 and marks 01–013: the first generation of Colibri variants.
- Colibri T-03, T-12, T-13: 1970s models with Puch engines.
- Colibri T 12 (1961): the version that became the most popular moped in Slovenia.
- Colibri 14V: the first Colibri with a Tomos engine.
- Colibri 15: a stronger model that could almost compete with motorcycles.
- Colibri A-0S and A-0N: early APN 4 versions that carried the Colibri name.
The APN series continued the Puch-derived line into the 1970s, and the Sprint shows how far the moped range travelled by the 1990s. More Tomos mopeds are in the Tomos collection.
Video: Tomos Colibri (cold start)
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Tomos, English Wikipedia: Colibri history, marks, 1959 output, Sweden, T 12, 14V and 15
- Tomos, Slovenian Wikipedia: first own models as Puch MS 50 derivatives called Colibri
- Tomos, German Wikipedia: Puch MS 50 basis and Colibri marketing
- Tomos APN 4, Slovenian Wikipedia: early APN 4 versions carrying the Colibri name
