Bel Motors Minoto 50.
Picture taken probably at the 1980 Paris Motorshow, with the production version. It was the last car launch by Bel Motors International, the "joint venture" created by Jean Bellier and Sotram in St Révérend, Vendée.
They've shown the prototype with a 80 cc engine at the 1979 Motorbike show (the voiturettes were on display on a yearly basis between 1977 and 1986, because they were seen as some "in between" bike and cars !).
Production started early in 1980 with the Motobécane AV10 49 cc only. It stopped merely two years later, when BMI went bankrupt. A few months later, Arola took over the Minoto and made it with a new ladder and drivetrain (and an added quarterlight quite soon), and a choice between 49 cc Peugeot or Motobécane, 125 cc BCB (knowledge of "code de la route" required) and a very late and rare 325 cc diesel sourced from Lombardini.
Anyway, quite a different car from this BMI Minoto, in spite of samey body !
