History
AMF mopeds were mildly popular from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s and split into two completely different machines. See the bike in person before you buy — model numbers starting with "C" often mean McCulloch, "A" often means Minarelli, but AMF rebadges are inconsistent.
The infamous McCulloch Roadmaster (model designations often starting with "C") mounts a BHE900 chainsaw engine in a plastic box over the rear wheel and drives the tire through friction. The frame is a single spindly tube forward of the seat post. Top speed hovers around 15 mph. It was cheap, everywhere at estate sales, and genuinely American-assembled — though Columbia Commuters of the same era used German Sachs and Solo engines. Collectors keep them as quirky trophies; tuners usually swap the motor entirely.
The Minarelli V1 AMF (often "A" models) is a normal tube-frame moped dressed in plastic bodywork — reliable, parts-friendly, with a plastic fan shroud instead of cast aluminum. That version is the one you actually want to ride.
McCulloch case halves include plastic that warps on first heat cycle, creating an unfixable air leak. If you inherit a friction-drive AMF, budget for a motor swap rather than a top-end kit.
Quick specs
| McCulloch version | Rear friction drive, ~15 mph |
| Minarelli version | V1 tube frame, plastic cladding |
| Origin | USA-assembled |
| Buyer note | Confirm engine type before purchase |