Malanca motorcycles

Malanca (1956-1986). For quite a few people that is a name that makes them look thoughtful. In connection with the years of construction of the thinkers, we are then in the corner of the once so famous Italian sports mopeds that made all German and Dutch mopeds look so incredibly rude. They looked incredibly fast. They were so slender that under the buttocks of a tough Groningen or North Holland boy they actually seemed unlikely to be small. Keep in mind that average South Italians were only sawed off about 165 centimeters above the ground.

The beautiful Italians were therefore sold considerably less than the so much more Kreidlers and 'Dappjes' geared to the Northern European format. Malanca not only made mopeds. Malanca also made motorcycles. By the way, they were stylized just as thinly as the 49 cceetje that were sporadically sold here. Only in the size 'small' instead of 'extra small'. Malanca did not do well in the USA and Asia.

In the beginning

At his workshop in Bologna, Mario Malanca started to produce mechanical parts and hubs for motorcycle wheels, and later he built complete motorcycles. The first appeared in 1956. In the following years, sales accelerated with markets first in Italy and then in Asia and the United States. So things didn't go bad. In 1960 a new plant was built for the production of Malanca engines, and two scooters were born there, the Vispetta (1962) and the Super Vis (1963-1969).

All income to the competition department

In 1968, Malanca made his racing debut with two famous riders, Walter Villa and Othello Buscherini. Within five years, the Malanca team won six championships in the 50cc and 60cc classes, and Buscherini won two rounds of the 125cc GP. In 1985 the team fought in the 250 GP with driver Stefano Caracchi. In 1978, Mario's son Marco acted as CEO of the company, now called Malanca Motors SpA. The production was focused on 125cc sport models that became popular with riders.

Still moved too early

The factory moved to a new facility in via Pila 6 in Pontecchio Marconi. In 1986 the company collapsed with its aspirations and the curtain fell on Malanca.

Not many Malanca motorcycles here

Hitting a Malanca motorcycle falls under the law on games of chance. You can find mopeds of the brand here earlier. They came en masse and for 'little' from places like Imola when the moped madness had erupted here. But Malanca motorcycles? Those are coincidences. Just like the Aspes engines and the like. We found our model, a 125 Malanca 2 EC1975 with some electrical work, so it must be a forgotten project, at Wisper Classics. The machine is technically okay, has no license plate, but a set of expansion pipes can be supplied for those who want to participate in demo races. But wouldn't it be a shame to leave something so endearing alone on the track? The condition of the bike requires that you simply have it registered.

A negative purchase advice

For people who let themselves be carried away by nostalgic passion: Please do not buy such a machine if you are taller than six feet and weigh more than a hundred kilos. Such a Divine Dutch posture does not match the size of this Malanca. Children will start crying. Dogs bark. Women laugh at you. And you don't want to do that to such a beautiful, extremely sensitive Italian.

With Dell'Orto SHB 19 B this athlete was given up for 15 pk. With a VHB 22 F, he would be 18 pk strong. And whether the ADHD-equipped with electronic ignition really was quick with 135 kilometers per hour? Ach: Italians and numbers ...

The competition then

Aspes Yuma
Benelli 2C
Bultaco Streaker
Fantic Motor Strada
Italjet Buccaneer
Montesa Crono
Motobécane 125 LT
Laverda LZ
Zündapp KS-WK