Motorcycle Investor mag Subscribe to our free email news
Imola Ducati heads to auction Historically important V-twin expected to fetch Au$1-1.15 million (US$650-750,000, GB£520-600,000)
(April 25, 2024)
One
of
just seven surviving Imola Ducati 750 Desmos is hitting
the auction circuit with Gooding
& Co, in a sale running May 8-17.
The
machine
is among the top two-wheeled collectibles in the world,
given it’s from the same batch that put Ducati on the
world racing map, with a win in the 1972 Imola 200. The
lead bike was in the hands of Briton Paul Smart, whose
team-mate Bruno Spaggiari landed second. That
was
against a star-studded field, with the likes of Giacomo
Agostini in the mix. High-profile riders Barry Sheene,
Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini had been offered rides
on Ducatis for the event, but at that stage didn’t have
enough confidence in the then emerging manufacturer to
take up the challenge. See Ian
Falloon’s Imola feature. From
the
auction house: “As one of the most original of eight
Imola racers built, this Ducati is one of the very best
of this rare breed,” said Angus Dykman, Specialist for
Gooding & Company.
Above: A period Ducati newsletter
celebrating the Imola win. “The
1972
Imola 200 was not only a defining moment in motorcycle
history, but for Ducati as a company. The technical
achievements developed for the eight specially-produced
Imola racers propelled Ducati to the forefront of
international competition for years to come, and
desmodromic valves are still used in the company's
highest performance models to this day. “This
incredible
example has spent nearly thirty years in the consignor’s
loving care and is accompanied by remarkable archival
photos, fascinating documentation and a report by marque
expert Ian Falloon.”
Although
it
achieved competition success with its smaller
displacement models, it was not until the early 1970s
that Ducati decided to take on the dominant pairing of
Giacomo Agostini and MV Agusta in motorcycle racing’s
premier Formula 750 class. Led by its legendary engineer
Fabio Taglioni, the firm prepared eight all-new, highly
advanced 750 cc racers for the 1972 Imola 200, known as
the “Daytona of Europe”. Ducati
proudly
arrived at Imola with seven of the racers in a specially
designed glass-sided transporter, causing widespread
excitement and anticipation among the motorcycle world
at large. Indeed, history was made. In a tremendous
upset, Ducati riders Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari took
first and second place, ushering in a new era of
international success for Ducati. The
Imola
race bikes featured notable innovations, including the
first use of desmodromic valve actuation on a V-twin
engine, allowing extreme high rpm performance. The
motorcycles also boasted strong sandcast engine cases,
lightweight billet connecting rods and cranks, and an
asymmetrical exhaust setup, among countless other
features detailed in the accompanying report by marque
expert Ian Falloon.
Since
then,
this bike has been carefully maintained by the
consignor, and run periodically. It has also been the
subject of numerous articles and a beautifully produced
short film.
See the
accompanying Cycle World story.
This
is
among the seven purpose-built Imola racers known to
survive. Falloon notes that this Ducati retains its
original frame and sandcast crankcases along with the
majority of its original silver metallic flake gelcoat
finish, which is rare for a racing bike from this era. See Ian
Falloon's Imola Ducati feature.
*** Note: the author owns the Norton
Commando and Ducati 860 GT featured. ------------------------------------------------- Produced by AllMoto abn 61 400 694 722 |
ArchivesContact
|