Italians… A lot has been said and written about that. From my own observation, they are mainly made up of emotions. The list of fantastic Italian motorcycle builders who went bankrupt because they invested 1.000 of every 2.000 liras earned in racing plans, dreams and constructions is almost endless. They are impractical dreamers, design engineering geniuses.
Alejandro de Tomaso: an Argentinian-Italian entrepreneur
But then we have the Argentinian Alejandro de Tomaso, the son of an Italian politician and a Spanish landowner. In 1952 he had to leave Argentina for political reasons. He married the granddaughter of the founder of General Motors, but was also able to found his own car brand thanks to his own wealth. He also bought a number of Italian companies.
De Tomaso's takeover of Benelli and Moto Guzzi
In 1971, De Tomaso took over the Italian motorcycle brand Benelli and in 1973 Moto Guzzi. He immediately started working on new designs for these brands. Because with the typical Italian approach he wanted to stop the invasion of Japanese motorcycles worldwide. What?! He wanted to wipe the Japanese off the map. He did this with almost 1-on-1 replicas of the Honda CB500 and only 1,5 with the legendary Benelli Sei six-cylinders. He mercilessly stole Hondas under the battle cry: “You can steal from thieves!”
Influential designers and the evolution of Benelli and Moto Guzzi
With that in mind, he hired Paolo Martin and Pierangelo Andreani. Martin came from Ghia, but had also worked for Bertone and Pininfarina. He designed 250, 350, 400 and 500 cc four-cylinders and the 750 and 900 cc Benelli Sei models. As for Benelli engines, De Tomaso simply took copies of Honda engines. Moto Guzzi's longitudinal V-twins were modernized, but the lighter models looked a lot like the Benellis due to the generously applied badge engineering. However, Moto Guzzi, thanks to its trusted engines, was a much stronger brand and Benelli soon took second place. When Paolo Martin started his own design studio, his job was taken over by Pierangelo Andreani, who had also worked for Ghia.
The variable popularity of the Benelli and Moto Guzzi models
The 500 cc Benellis are not in great demand. Many of the Moto Guzzis from the De Tomaso era are, although many have now been converted into café racers, LeMans clones and the like. The sharp styling that was so characteristic of their time was and is still valued less by many Guzzi enthusiasts than the Guzzis with a more classic Guzzi appearance. There's no accounting for taste.
The practice of badge engineering and family feuds
This badge engineering stuff within the brand group is of course nothing new. There were also Benellis with Motobi emblems. But that was more the result of a family feud rather than a master plan.
The Moto Guzzi 400 GTS: a brief history
We saw the Moto Guzzi 400 GTS for sale in the photos and it is the logical sequel to the 350 GTS. And he might as well have been called Benelli. The engine of the Moto Guzzi 350 GTS was again very much a Honda look-a-like and bore and stroke were 50 x 44 mm. The design was completely new and there was not a single element that reminded us of the older Moto Guzzi models. In 1974 the machine still had an old-fashioned drum brake in the front wheel, but in 1974 this was replaced by a disc brake. The 350 GTS was produced in 1974 and 1975 and succeeded by the 400 GTS.
The rarity and collection value of 'misses'
As with all 'misses', not very many were sold. You have the best chance of success via subito.it. And you might consider purchasing it because many 'misses from the past' are becoming increasingly in demand precisely because of their rarity. But whether you buy a classic as a risk investment or just for fun? Of course you have to know that yourself. But in terms of purchasing behavior, this line of engines is still very friendly.
The Moto Guzzi 400 GTS: an affordable classic
We received the photos through a reader, the Guzzi is or was at Motorhandel Jeroen Mensen and the asking price was just under 1.500 euros.
Just as sad as the whipped up Matchless G80 with a Rotax engine. But much better than such a Universal Italian Motorbike attempt.
Agree. There used to be a neo Matchless at Roadrunner in Velp. But there was still a certain quality that radiated from it. This approach was one of weakness as an emergency solution. At least at Motobi/Benelli there was still a steaming family feud attached to the story.