Yamaguchi Autopet Sports

This tiny blue bomber is a 1962 Yamaguchi Autopet Sports SPB. It is probably the most common Yamaguchi model imported into the U. S., but the word common is a misnomer. After Honda broke American ground in 1959 with its ubiquitous 50, a flood of little Japanese squirts began to roll off the boat in L A. Yamaha and Suzuki would quickly establish themselves as the #2 and #3 brands respectively, but they were far from alone. One of the pioneers was Yamaguchi, but unlike most of their competitors, Yamaguchis were imported by Pabatco in Athena, Oregon. According to this Hodaka story, Pabatco imported 5000 Yamaguchis throughout 1962 and early '63 before Yamaguchi declared bankruptcy.

Some of you may already know that the 1964 Hodaka Ace 90 was a phoenix from the Yamaguchi ashes. Just before the Hodaka introduction, Pabatco was advertising the Yamaguchi Ace 80 alongside the Sports 50. The September 1963 issue of Cycle World showed an ad for these new 1964 models. The road-only Ace 80 was not exactly a fire-breathing sportster, with its enclosed chain, full, low fenders, and three-speed transmssion. The only Yamaguchi models that I am aware of are the SPB, a very similar, sporty 50 called the LR, and the rather clunky Ace 80. I have heard about Yamaguchis for more than forty-five years, but I have never seen a single one.