The Aermacchi Ala Verde 250
Aircraft manufacturer Aeronautica Macchi delved into 'The Fifties' in the emerging market for mass motorization went and started making scooters and then motorcycles. The first result of this approach were the Aermacchi Corsaro 150, from 1955 and the exuberantly plated Chimera 175. In 1957 it was time for new times. There was a 250 cc version of the Chimera plus three 'naked bikes': the Ala Bianca 175, the Ala Rossa 175 and in 1959 the Ala Azzurra 250 and the Ala Verde 250.
And we found a beautiful example of such an Ala Verde in Brummen, at Gallery Aaldering.
The hair-raisingly beautiful Aermacchi comes from a foreign private collection. Just like many reborn classics, this one is more beautiful than it ever came from the factory. Such a glimpse of a restoration job usually does no good to British and German engines. Because: 'optically and emotionally over the top'. But because Italians are simply an incomprehensible exuberant people, the state of this 1962 person is simply heart-conquering. Because it has been perfected and not brought into a state that we know from the Dames Brard and Paay or has been sacrificed to the outrageous chrome lust that is so characteristic of Germans and Americans.
Not over the top restored
He is still very clearly in the sun to be 'motorcycle' instead of being 'bling bling thing'. That proves the power of its design: Even in full shine, the Aermacchi remains just a nice cool thing. The engine block is made of aluminum that still shines honestly. Not from a morbidly blended mix of easily pourable dredge that has cauliflower on it after a wet cough. The engine block is compact and radiates power. The 24 mm Dell'Orto carburetor is perky on the cylinder head. The float chamber has a hint of old gas spray from flooding when flooding before the cold start. Beautiful! The exhaust bend does not look anorex either. The muffler looks just like it sounds: round and cool.
Very nice details
At the time, the front brake of an Ala Verde was usually an 180 mm drum with an ascending and descending brake shoe. Our Ala Verde has an 2LS –twin leading shoe, a brake with two ascending shoes - a brake. Whether he came out of the factory like that or was he ever "upgraded"? You never know that with Italian production. The slender Italian flaunts its front and rear with its beautiful aluminum rims. The safety wires on the chain tensioners on the rear fork are worth a poem. They bear witness to almost perverse attention, love and care for detail.
Does it make you greedy ...
Such an Aermacchi is therefore small and slender. But still a very real motorcycle. A sporty motorcycle that the owner can use to set quite fast times on the Posbank or Vaalserberg. It is not for nothing that many 'Ala's' have been running around on a circuit somewhere in their lives. Being stunned ... And what is the most addictive dynamic? That is the inlet and outlet noise.
The technical data
Engine: single-cylinder air-cooled push rod engine. One underlying camshaft, two valves. Cylinder capacity: 246 cc. Compression ratio: 1 on 8,5. Bore x stroke: 66 x 72 mm. Max power: 16 hp at 6.500 rpm. Top speed: 140 km / h.
Electrical system: 6 Volt, battery ignition coil. 4 or 5 gears, kickstarter. Brakes V / A: drums, diameter 180 mm. Tires V / A: 2.50 x 17 / 3.00 x 17. Curb weight: 114 kg. Tank capacity 17 l.
The parts supply
Apart from lucky finds, it is all moderately good. But Aermacchi club members are lucky. There is a restriction to prevent Jan and everyone from becoming greedy members.
