Capriolo 1956ca Cento 50 149 cc 2 cyl face-cam 3603

Capriolo 1956ca “Cento 50” 149 cc face-cam transverse twin frame # 00274 engine # 00302

Video: https://youtu.be/G_0EGZcLPVA

Named after the roe deer, the Capriolo marque emerges in 1948 from the ashes of the giant Caproni group, formerly one of Italy’s largest manufacturing concerns. Capriolo starts two-wheeled production with a 50 cc ultra-lightweight before swiftly moving on to the 75 cc Capriolo 75, which is notable for its use of a pressed-steel frame and an unusual four-stroke engine of the overhead ‘face cam’ type (a picture of the face cam mechanism is shown at end of the video). At the Milan Show in November 1953, Capriolo launches its bigger brother the Cento 50, one of the very few Italian motorcycles to be powered by a horizontally opposed engine. This has bore x stroke dimensions of 43 x 47 mm and delivers 8 hp @ 6000 rpm, good for a top speed of about 95 km/h. The final drive goes via chain and this little Italian represents the only example of such a small OHC face-cam opposed twin engine in the motorcycle engineering world. The frame is also unusual, pressed steel frames were popular in the prewar years but less common in the 1950s. The Cento 50 ( “hundred fifty”) was only produced for about two years and it appears that less than 500 left the factory. Note the comfortably-looking Aquila “Anatomica” saddle. In 1958 the factory name changes from Caproni to Aeromere, but the Capriolo name is kept for the motorcycles. 1964 is the last year that motorcycles are produced.

The machine we present here has been part of a private collection for more than forty years and we believe she has never been restored and comes in her original finish. Due to her rarity, originality, unusual technical characteristics and refined construction, this model is considered as one of the most appreciated and sought after 1950s Italian motorcycles of this class.

A detailed photo report (approx. 30 photos) is available for every motorcycle on our website, which we send upon request.