Bultaco

The company was founded in May 1958 by Francesc "Paco" Bultó. Bultó had previously served as a director at Montesa, a motorcycle firm established in 1944. Following a move to larger facilities in 1957 and a subsequent downturn in the Spanish economy, a conflict arose between Bultó and majority shareholder Pere Permanyer. Permanyer favored withdrawing from racing as an economy measure, a move Bultó vehemently opposed.

Bultó left Montesa to pursue other business interests, and the majority of the Montesa racing department resigned shortly thereafter. These former employees met with Bultó and persuaded him to establish a new racing-focused manufacturer. The company began operations under primitive conditions at an old farm owned by Bultó.

Bultaco held its first press day on 24 March 1959, launching the Tralla 101, a 125 cc road-going motorcycle named after the Spanish word for "whip." The company’s competitive debut occurred two months later at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Bultaco machines secured seven of the top ten finishing positions.

The company name was suggested by racer John Grace, combining the first four letters of Bultó's surname with the last three letters of his nickname, "Paco." The corporate entity was known as CEMOTO, an acronym for Compañia Española de Motores. The "Thumbs up" logo was adopted after Bultó observed British racer David Whitworth using the signal to communicate with his pit crew.

Bultaco achieved its most significant commercial and competitive success in off-road disciplines. In the 1960s, Irish trials rider Sammy Miller collaborated with Bultó to develop the Sherpa T. This lightweight two-stroke machine rendered the traditional heavy British four-stroke motorcycles obsolete. Miller won the Scottish Six Days Trial in 1965, 1967, and 1968, and secured the European trials championship in 1968 and 1970.

During the 1970s, Bultaco dominated the World Trials Championship, winning the title eight times. The United States became the company's largest export market, as Bultaco provided competitive racing machinery that required no modifications. Key models included:

Pursang: A powerful 250 cc motocross model, later expanded to 125, 360, and 370 cc displacements, used in various speed-based off-road competitions.

Astro: A short-track racer popular in the United States, utilized by AMA Grand National riders such as Mike Kidd, Terry Poovey, and Bubba Rush.

Matador: Designed for enduro competition.

Bultaco engines were primarily single-cylinder, air-cooled two-strokes, though the company also produced water-cooled units. A defining technical feature was the universal interchangeability of engines and transmissions; cylinders ranging from 175 cc to 360 cc could be swapped onto the same crankcases using factory parts.

Industrial unrest and market pressures led to the cessation of Bultaco production in 1979. While the factory reopened in 1980, it closed permanently in 1983.

The Bultaco name saw several revivals through trademark acquisitions:

In 1998, Marc Tessier purchased the rights to use the name for Sherco Moto S.A.R.L. The motorcycles were branded as Bultaco Shercos, then Sherco by Bultaco in 2000, before the Bultaco name was dropped in 2001. The name "Sherco" itself is an amalgamation of "Sherpa" and "Bultaco."

The United States trademark is held by HDW Enterprises, a vintage parts specialist.

In May 2014, a new Bultaco entity was announced, focusing on electric motorcycles manufactured in Barcelona, the site of the original factory. Sales of these electric models began in 2015.

Bultaco's influence on motorcycle design is centered on the shift toward two-stroke technology in trials and motocross. The Sherpa T is credited with stimulating the growth of trials in Europe and the United States. The brand's racing heritage is also reflected in the career of MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau, who is the grandson of Paco Bultó and featured the Bultaco "Thumbs up" logo on the back of his helmet.