Oldtimers

Yamaha 1974 TZ 750A production racer 694 cc two stroke liquid cooled four cylinder frame & engine # 409 000 158 The Yamaha TZ750 is a series production two-stroke race motorcycle built by Yamaha to compete in the Formula 750 class in the 1970s. The engine was created on the idea of connecting two blocks of the 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, in-line 2-cylinder TZ350 engine together to make a 700cc in-line 4-cylinder engine and mounting it on a newly designed high-tensile steel pipe double cradle frame. ...

MV Agusta 1976 750 Sport America 789 cc DOHC four cylinder frame # 2210318 engine # 221-061 During the 1950s and the 1960s, MV Agusta produced small displacement bikes but as sales were starting to go down, the company decided to concentrate more on more powerful machines. The MV Agusta 600 debuted at the Milan Trade Fair in 1965. It featured final shaft drive and weighed 221 kg. It became the world’s first production motorcycle with a transverse 4-cylinder engine. But the public demanded someth ...

MV Agusta 1985 ca 750 S Magni 789 cc DOHC four cylinder frame # 2210451 engine # 214-0606 After the departure of MV Agusta from racing in 1976, the production of the street models was reduced. Although prototypes were developed until 1977, they were not implemented due to the financial situation of the company – MV made little profit from motorcycles. The production of the 750 S America was maintained until 1978. The last of the 540 machines made were sold officially during 1980. But effectively ...

MV Agusta 1976 750 Sport America 789 cc DOHC four cylinder frame # 2210451 engine # 221-073 During the 1950s and the 1960s, MV Agusta produced small displacement bikes but as sales were starting to go down, the company decided to concentrate more on more powerful machines. The MV Agusta 600 debuted at the Milan Trade Fair in 1965. It featured final shaft drive and weighed 221 kg. It became the world’s first production motorcycle with a transverse 4-cylinder engine. But the public demanded someth ...

Ducati 1982 900 Super Sport 864 cc OHC DESMO V-twin frame # DM860SS *091152 engine # 93411 Ducati were a relatively small motorcycle manufacturer in the 1960s, their road bikes focusing on single-cylinder machines of small capacity and didn’t start producing the first V-Twin engine until 1970, but it was British racer, Paul Smart, who established the firm winning the Imola 200 on a ‘round case’ 750cc bike which featured the now famous ‘Desmodromic’ valve system. The first production bike availab ...

Triumph 1979 T 140 “Bonneville” 744 cc OHV twin frame & engine # T140EKA13014 The Bonneville owes its creation to the 1937 Triumph Speed Twin, designed by Edward Turner. This breakthrough design served as a blueprint for future classic British motorbikes. Public demand for more power increased every year and in 1949, Turner upgraded the bike to become the 1950 6T Thunderbird. During the 1950s, Triumph racked up a number of victories on the Bonneville Salt Flats in the US. For example, in 1955, J ...

Rudge 1929 “350” 340 cc four-valve single frame # 34508 engine # 53991 The Rudge-Whitworth company was an established bicycle factory that entered motorcycle production in 1911. Their first machines were 499 cc IOE singles. They developed the famous Multi gear, with a possibility of up to 21 gear positions. For the 1924 model year the factory introduced a new range of four-valve singles in the 350 and 500 cc class. These were fitted with four-speed gearboxes, which was quite novel at the time. T ...

Triumph 1969 T150 “Trident” 740 cc 3-cylinder frame & engine # CC02584T150T Triumph’s eagerly awaited 3-cylinder T150 Trident was a radical new idea, introduced by the end of 1968, alongside BSA’s similarly powered A75 Rocket-3; both models were individually styled. The idea was wild, especially considering the conservative nature of BSA & Triumph management at the time. There were lots of singles & twins, and even some fours. But no one had a triple! The Triumph engine had its cylinders mounted ...

Gilera 1948 Saturno Sport 499 cc ohv single frame & engine # 269784 The Gilera Saturno was shown for the first time at the Milan show in 1938, the single unit engine designed by Guiseppe Salmaggi being a departure from the norm of the day; besides having clean lines most components were easily removable without taking the engine out of the frame. The main production ran from 1946 till 1958. In that period only about 6000 Saturnos were produced. Through the years of production four types were ava ...

Moto Guzzi 1934ca “P250” 238 cc OHV frame # P.2.1023 engine # 17676 The first model of the Moto Guzzi factory was the 500 cc single-cylinder Tipo Normale. The main features of this engine – horizontal cylinder, magneto located on top of the engine and an external flywheel – could still be seen in the last single-cylinder Guzzis, the Nuovo Falcones of 1976. Up to the early thirties the factory concentrated on the 500 cc class. But to reach more customers it was important to diversify and this was ...

Rudge 1922 “7/9 h.p. Three speed Twin” 998 cc IOE V-twin combination frame # 806160 engine # 24370 gearbox # 467 Already before the outbreak of WWI the company started development work on a twin version of the Multi, but it was only in November 1919 that the new twin, meant as a powerful sidecar machine, was introduced. It was fitted with a dropped frame that provided a lower seating position and gave the new model an appealing, modern look. At first it was fitted with the famous “Multi-Gear” sy ...

Gilera 1947ca Nettuno Turismo 247 cc OHV engine # 212801 Gilera first sprang to prominence in the late 1930s when its supercharged four-cylinder racers shattered BMWs in Grands Prix and snatched the world speed record from the German marque. Throughout the early 1950s it was the racers that again grabbed the headlines, the Arcore marque taking five manufacturer’s titles and six individual championships with riders such as Duke, Liberati, and Masetti. Although racing generated valuable publicity, ...

Radior 1928 Model Tourisme 250 cc side valve JAP frame # 2073 engine # B/C 21396 R Joseph Chapolard, a smart businessman, began his endeavours in the French village of Bourg-en-Bresse, situated north of Lyon and the administrative centre of the L ‘Ain department. He started off as agent for Singer sewing machines and was one of the first inhabitants of Bourg who owned an automobile, a De Dion-Bouton vis-à-vis. In 1904 he set up his own business under the Radior name, selling and repairing variou ...

MV Agusta 1954 175 CS / “Disco Volante” CSS 175 cc OHC frame # NR400500 engine # 471401 Having commenced motorcycle production late in 1945 with a 98cc two-stroke, Meccanica Verghera (MV) introduced its first production four-strokes, the single-cylinder 175 CST and CSTL, at the Milan Show in 1952. The newcomers’ advanced overhead-cam, unitary construction engine set them apart from most of the opposition. Their cycle parts too were state-of-the-art, consisting of a duplex loop frame incorporatin ...

Gilera 1937 VTE “Quattro Bulloni” 499 cc ohv single frame # 102595 engine #12176 Founded by 22-year-old engineer, Giuseppe Gilera in 1909, this Italian manufacturer first sprang to international prominence in the late 1930s when its supercharged four-cylinder racers heavily defeated BMW in Grands Prix and snatched the world speed record away from the German marque. Throughout the early 1950s it was the racers which again grabbed the headlines, the Arcore marque’s fours taking five manufacturer’s ...

Indian 1940 Model 340 Big Chief 1204 cc side valve v-twin frame # 346 6234 engine # CAV 1128 B For model year 1940 the Indian company had thoroughly restyled their range in order to attract more customers. Streamlining was all the vogue and Indian proudly boasted that they were leaders in this respect. Notable features of the new models were the skirted fenders and the spring frame for the Four and the Big Chief. But there was much more: new cushioned saddle, lower saddle positions, new tire siz ...

Velocette 1947 KSS 348 cc OHC single frame # KDD 9064 engine # KSS10301 The firm of Veloce Ltd. was formed in 1905 by Johann Goodman. It was a family business that concentrated on sound motorcycle engineering principles. Their first machines were lightweight four strokes; after that a line of top-class 250 cc two strokes was brought out. In 1924/25 Percy Goodman designed the 350 cc overhead camshaft model K, a machine destined to win many TTs and other races, starting with the 1926 Junior TT tha ...

Rex Acme 1920 “Standard Touring” 8hp 1000 cc JAP v-twin combination frame # T202223 engine # 20/7299 Acme is best remembered for its association with the Rex concern; both firms had premises in Osborne Road, Coventry, Rex setting up there in 1899 and Acme a few years later. Unlike its close neighbour, which built motor cars and tricycles as well as motorcycles, the Coventry Acme Motor Company Limited, to give it its full name, was only ever a motorcycle manufacturer, its first machines being pow ...

Rudge 1938 “Special” 495 cc four-valve two-port single frame # 62605 engine # S5791 The Rudge-Whitworth company was an established bicycle factory that entered motorcycle production in 1911. Their first machines were 499 cc IOE singles. They developed the famous Multi gear, with a possibility of up to 21 gear positions. In 1924 the factory introduced a new range of four valve singles. In 1928 Graham Walker managed to win the Ulster Grand Prix on a Rudge, after a heroic handlebar-to handlebar bat ...

Indian 1921 “G.E. 21” Scout 596 cc side valve V-twin frame # 2961954 engine # 51 S 881 video: https://youtu.be/-IJu1XJ4lnQ After WW I the Indian factory decided it was time to market a somewhat lighter model than the 1000cc PowerPlus. The new model, christened “Scout”, was designed by Charles Franklin and it created a sensation when brought out at the end of 1919. The strong points of the new design were easy handling, lightness, ample power for the 1920s roads and unbeatable reliability. The en ...