Montesa will mark its 80th anniversary with VIVA Montesa, an exhibition bringing 80 historic motorcycles under one roof. The opening is scheduled for Tuesday 29 September 2026 at MNACTEC in Terrassa, the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia. The event begins at 19:00, is open to the public and has free admission, subject to capacity limits, according to MotorBike.gr.

The exhibition is organised through MontesaViva and draws on the collection assembled by the family of Pere Permanyer i Puigjaner, the company’s founder and owner. Models named for the display include the A-45, Brío, Impala, Cappra and Cota. The motorcycles will be accompanied by engines, historical documents and visual material, giving the exhibition a wider focus than a static display of machines. Its central thread is the way innovation, design and competition influenced Montesa’s development from the post-war years to its modern trial identity.

Three periods of Montesa history

VIVA Montesa divides the company’s story into three main periods. The first runs from Montesa’s foundation in 1945 to the arrival of the Impala, a model presented as a turning point in the company’s history and an emblem of Spanish motorcycle manufacturing. The second covers the years of greatest industrial and racing expansion. During that phase, Montesa’s range included road, trial, motocross and enduro motorcycles; the company also expanded its international presence and transferred experience gained in competition into production models.

The final section follows Montesa’s partnership with Honda and the brand’s gradual specialisation in trial. That alliance secured Montesa’s continuity and laid the foundation for the competition record associated with the marque today. Montesa now operates as a Honda subsidiary and continues to compete in the Trial World Championship with Toni Bou. MotorBike.gr describes the brand as having achieved major success in the championship with the Repsol Honda factory team.

A dedicated motocross display

Motocross receives a separate section, with authentic Montesa racing motorcycles from the early 1960s through the mid-1980s shown together. The display is intended to highlight the marque’s racing achievements across that period, while the accompanying documents and visual material place the machines within the company’s technical and industrial story. Visitors will also see motorcycles that represent the competition heritage behind Montesa’s continuing presence at the top level of trial.

The opening programme coincides with the museum’s return after renovation. Trial riders from the Repsol Honda factory team are expected to participate, and Montesa’s 2027 model range will be presented to the public. For Greek enthusiasts, MotorBike.gr notes that Montesa was imported into Greece for decades by Kostas Arvanitakis in Galatsi, with a particularly visible presence in enduro, trial and motocross competition. The exhibition therefore connects the company’s Catalan and Spanish history with a marque that also left a mark on Greek off-road racing culture.