#Wittels- Posted July 8, 2022 Posted July 8, 2022 In a last ditch attempt to survive the automobile boom, the brand brought out this strikingly designed frame With regard to automotive design, not only designers specialized in it have had a place. There have also been some cases relating to vehicles conceived by true eminences of industrial design in general. In this way, in motorsports, the contribution of Raymond Loewy stands out. Author of the Shell logo, but also of various locomotives as well as the charismatic Studebaker Avanti. In addition, even Le Corbusier came to design a car proposal for the masses. The Minimum Vehicle. Two years ahead of the first KdF-Wagen prototype. Two interesting examples that also have their co-religionists in the motorcycle sector. Something that the striking Derny Taon T3 from 1957 demonstrates very well. A frame that, as we will see, had its particular echo in the Spanish market of the time. This being the case, it would be best to start with Roger Tallon. Born in 1929, his influence has been such that even today he is considered the most important figure that France has bequeathed to the history of industrial design. A consideration argued by the TGV or the Eurostar, the main works of a career in which the automotive industry has had a great deal of attention along with the design of furniture and even watches. Also, in the mid-fifties, he answered a call from Derny. The company founded in 1949 with the aim of manufacturing bicycles, soon making the leap to mopeds and motorcycles like many other brands before it. An example of this is, for example, Norton in England at the beginning of the 20th century. But why did Derny use your services? After all, this company already had good experience in designing its own models. Well, the decision was preceded by despair. And it is that, in the midst of a decline in the motorcycle market due to the po[CENSORED]rization of po[CENSORED]r cars, Derny thought that the best would attract the attention of the market with something truly original. In that sense, the fresh look of an external professional always helps. Just in the way and measure that Loewy did with Studebaker in the field of motorsports. Of course, the result was not comparable. Let's see why. Derny Taon T3, when originality doesn't pay off Like so many other motorcycle companies towards the end of the fifties, Derny was at a crossroads where the only thing left to do was to reconvert or close. In fact, we know this very well in the case of the Catalan industry of those same years, with the debate between Permanyer and Bultó that gave rise to the appearance of Bultaco, going for the sportsmanship niche or wanting to corner the idea of the motorcycle as a second mount after the car. Whether focused on leisure or day to day in the city. That being the case, Derny thought that launching a visually striking frame would be perfect to overcome his increasingly diminishing sales. For this reason, in 1957 the Derny Taon T3 was presented with a 125 cubic centimeter engine from the American Motors Corporation capable of delivering 6 CV at 4,500 revolutions per minute reaching a maximum speed of 90 kilometers per hour. So far, everything is very normal, with the surprise coming thanks to the fairing designed by Roger Tallon, joining the fuel tank and the headlight through an interesting, quite characteristic block. However, sales failed to be particularly impressive. In fact, although a variant with a quarter-liter engine was being prepared, a few months after the Derny Taon T3 was launched, it was decided not only to close its production, but even that of the company itself, thus closing its doors, although it was later resurrected as has made the Alicante Setter. And well, bringing up the peninsular market, there is nothing left to do but review the link between the Derny Taon T3 and it. Something that was done through Rieju, which spent a good part of the fifties launching models of excellent workmanship and daring design, not infrequently under French manufacturing licenses. Something too exquisite and onerous for the Hispanic market of the moment, having to radically change its strategy in order not to go bankrupt. Of course, before that, he bequeathed us models such as the refined Isard scooter or his particular copy of the Taon T3. Marketed under the name of Tahon – we do not know the reason for that h – Sport 125. Today a true joy for collectors although, at the time, it had a commercial success in Spain even less than that experienced in France. Finally, c'est la vie! Link: https://motos.espirituracer.com/motodeldia/moto-del-dia-derny-taon-t3/
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