MARUSHO-LILAC SW Lancer (1955-1956) Specs, Performance & Photos

Marusho Motor Co., Ltd was a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that produced motorcycles from 1948 to 1967. Their official place of business was in Tokyo, and the factory was in Hamamatsu.

Marusho's history began in 1946 when Tadashi Ito opened his first Marusho Car Repair Shop, a company that made truck bodies for Toyota and Nissan. Two years later, Ito founded Marusho Shokai Co., Ltd, a new company that manufactured motorcycles for at least 19 years.

In 1950, the newly founded company rolled out its first ML prototype, also known as LA, LB, or LC, a motorcycle equipped with a 150cc engine. Between 1951 and 1961, Marusho developed and released 31 motorcycle models sharing the same Lilac brand.

After failing to impress with the TW Dragon model, the company introduced two sportier models in 1955: a single-cylinder model named SY and a two-cylinder one designated SW Lancer. The SW model was identical to the SY model and packed the 350cc engine from the TW Dragon. Both motorcycles were made between 1955 and 1956.

The SW Lancer had a round headlight up front, a steel frame, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a single seat, a luggage rack mounted on the rear fender, a dual exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and wire-spoke wheels.

At its core, the 1955 Marusho-Lilac SW Lancer had installed a 338cc flat twin engine managed by a carburetor.