Phillips Panda

The Phillips Panda was one of a number of mopeds produced by the Phillips Cycles company of England in the 1950s and early 1960s. The factory also produced the slightly more expensive Phillips Gadabout models. Phillips Cycles Ltd. was a respected British bicycle manufacturer based in Bridge Street, Smethwick, England. Founded by J. A. Phillips and E. W Bohle in Birmingham around 1892, its history ended in the 1970s, by which time it had become part of Raleigh Industries, itself a part of the huge Tube Investments group. For a number of years, the company was the second largest bicycle producer in Britain after Raleigh. The "Phillips" brand is still used around the world, especially in China and the Far East, having been licensed by Raleigh.

The single speed Panda Mark 1 and 2 utilised what probably became the last manufacturing installation of the 49 cc German Rex cyclemotor engine, which first appeared around 1950 in the form of a front mounted, belt driven cycle attachment, the strong but basic Panda frame being specifically built to house the motor. The Rex engine at 6:1 compression has no bhp given but carries a 12 millimetre Bing carburettor to the aluminium barrel with sleeve liner in conventional fore & aft porting layout. The crankcase cavity unusually extends all the way to the back of the motor to include lubrication of the reduction gear and its bearings by the induction gases. This results in a reduced scavenge pressure. Mounted on the end of the output shaft with the sprocket inboard, the tiny 2½" Rex dry clutch is a particularly frail pull operated device and typically responsible for the final demise of most machines. The Panda has a 'grip locking' clutch lever and a carburettor set up that provides a very reliable and steady tick over. The rear brake comprises a back pedal Perry Coaster hub and a conventional bicycle type hub brake, handlebar lever operated for the front brake. Mark 1 version had no suspension but the mark 2 had telescopic front forks, larger headlamp and deeper valanced rear mudguard but retained the solid rear frame. The electrical system comprised a Miller flywheel magneto with lighting coils. The final Panda mark 3 was simply an imported French Mobylette made by Motobécane badged as a Phillips. It had nothing in common with the previous home produced models.