The White Motorcycle Company is just one of dozens of now defunct manufacturers that have been forced to close their doors over the years by bad luck and less than ideal circumstances. The White MoCo was based in Hungary and produced several different models with the intentions of importing to the US market. Unfortunately someone’s major oversight in 1967 resulted in a shipment of 100 of their motorcycles making it to customs in Southern California where the bikes didn’t meet EPA requirements and were thus not permitted into the country. After some time in government storage, the majority of these machines would be destroyed with only ten of them finally being allowed into the US for promotional uses only under the condition White couldn’t sell the bikes. This would financially cripple the manufacturer ad lead to their ultimate demise.
This example of a White Motorcycle was just one of three early prototypes imported into the US in ’65. According to the seller: “It is believed this is the actual Bike that was raced and Won the AMA Western States national Championship (a single race series) in the 250cc Expert class known also as the Cherry Creek National. A more than 100 miles desert Race from Utah to Nevada. This Bike also finished 3rd overall of the open cc class in that race. This was later much advertised by the White Company in 1966, and 1967.”
Originally given to the man that raced this bike back in the sixties, this bike would trade hands several times before finally ending up with its current owner/seller. Said owner would go on to restore the little White MoCo model to its current glory. The bike is in now fantastic condition, albeit it’s not all-original as he current owner was unable to find an original saddle for this bike and instead swapped in a seat from a 1974 Indian 125 and the carb on this little 250 is a 32mm Puch.
This is a fascinating vintage Scrambler and a unique opportunity to own a piece of lesser-known motorcycle history. You can find this 250 Enduro MC67 Model, (aka the Pannonia 250 in the Euro-market) for sale here on Craigslist in Los Angeles, California with a price of $10,000.