LOT 541 N
1968 MV Agusta 861cc 'Magni' Registration no. not UK registered Frame no. MV4C60-199 016 Engine no. 199-017
Sold for £60,950 inc. premium
Lot 541N
1968 MV Agusta 861cc 'Magni'Registration no. not UK registered Frame no. MV4C60-199 016 Engine no. 199-017
1968 MV Agusta 861cc 'Magni'
Registration no. not UK registered
Frame no. MV4C60-199 016
Engine no. 199-017
Registration no. not UK registered
Frame no. MV4C60-199 016
Engine no. 199-017
• Genuine Magni-modified MV
• Based on a 600cc MV four
• Built by Giovanni Magni in August 2007
• Chain drive conversion
Motorcycle race engineers are rarely household names, but one exception to this general rule is the legendary Arturo Magni. Born in Usmate Velate, Milan in 1925, Magni started his motorcycle career in 1947 in Gilera's racing department. The Arcore factory had decided to return to Grand Prix racing, and Arturo Magni was employed assembling the new four-cylinder engine designed by Piero Remor, co-creator of the pre-war OPRA and CNA Rondine fours. Gilera would go on to win six 500cc World Championships with this engine.
In 1949 Count Domenico Agusta tempted Remor away from Gilera to design MV Agusta's first four-cylinder race engine. Magni followed him in 1950 as chief mechanic, and later managed the racing department during MV's Grand Prix 'golden age'. At the height of its powers the Italian team could command the services of the world's finest riders, among them Sandford, Ubbiali, Surtees, Provini, Hailwood, Read and Agostini, and under Magni's direction MV won no fewer than 75 World Championships.
When MV retired from Grand Prix racing in 1976, Magni and his two sons set up their own company in Samarate, producing performance parts for the MV Agusta 750 street bikes, including big-bore kits, special frames, and chain-drive conversions. Magni commenced production of motorcycles under his own name in 1980, initially using the Honda CB900 engine, with BMW, Moto Guzzi, and Suzuki-engined models following. In the mid-1980s Magni commenced what would turn out to be an immensely fruitful association with Moto Guzzi.
Yet despite all his latter-day successes with Moto Guzzi, Arturo Magni's name will forever be linked with that of MV Agusta, whose reputation this great engineer did so much to forge. The first MV model officially to bear his name was the 'Monza Arturo Magni', a stretched (to 832cc) version of the 750S America. The Magni version was enlarged to 861cc courtesy of an increase in bore size to 70mm, and came with a specially tuned engine equipped with four 30mm Dell'Orto carburettors. Official production of the Magni, together with that of all MV Agusta's other models, ended in February 1979, although Arturo and his sons Carlo and Giovanni continued to create bespoke MVs to special order. Arturo died in 2005.
Based on an early 600cc MV four, the machine offered here was modified to 861cc specification by Giovanni Magni in 2007, including a chain final drive conversion. It is believed to have covered only 207 kilometres since completion. Formerly part of a Belgian private collection, the machine is offered with a Rapport d'Expertise (expert appraisal) dated August 2014.
• Based on a 600cc MV four
• Built by Giovanni Magni in August 2007
• Chain drive conversion
Motorcycle race engineers are rarely household names, but one exception to this general rule is the legendary Arturo Magni. Born in Usmate Velate, Milan in 1925, Magni started his motorcycle career in 1947 in Gilera's racing department. The Arcore factory had decided to return to Grand Prix racing, and Arturo Magni was employed assembling the new four-cylinder engine designed by Piero Remor, co-creator of the pre-war OPRA and CNA Rondine fours. Gilera would go on to win six 500cc World Championships with this engine.
In 1949 Count Domenico Agusta tempted Remor away from Gilera to design MV Agusta's first four-cylinder race engine. Magni followed him in 1950 as chief mechanic, and later managed the racing department during MV's Grand Prix 'golden age'. At the height of its powers the Italian team could command the services of the world's finest riders, among them Sandford, Ubbiali, Surtees, Provini, Hailwood, Read and Agostini, and under Magni's direction MV won no fewer than 75 World Championships.
When MV retired from Grand Prix racing in 1976, Magni and his two sons set up their own company in Samarate, producing performance parts for the MV Agusta 750 street bikes, including big-bore kits, special frames, and chain-drive conversions. Magni commenced production of motorcycles under his own name in 1980, initially using the Honda CB900 engine, with BMW, Moto Guzzi, and Suzuki-engined models following. In the mid-1980s Magni commenced what would turn out to be an immensely fruitful association with Moto Guzzi.
Yet despite all his latter-day successes with Moto Guzzi, Arturo Magni's name will forever be linked with that of MV Agusta, whose reputation this great engineer did so much to forge. The first MV model officially to bear his name was the 'Monza Arturo Magni', a stretched (to 832cc) version of the 750S America. The Magni version was enlarged to 861cc courtesy of an increase in bore size to 70mm, and came with a specially tuned engine equipped with four 30mm Dell'Orto carburettors. Official production of the Magni, together with that of all MV Agusta's other models, ended in February 1979, although Arturo and his sons Carlo and Giovanni continued to create bespoke MVs to special order. Arturo died in 2005.
Based on an early 600cc MV four, the machine offered here was modified to 861cc specification by Giovanni Magni in 2007, including a chain final drive conversion. It is believed to have covered only 207 kilometres since completion. Formerly part of a Belgian private collection, the machine is offered with a Rapport d'Expertise (expert appraisal) dated August 2014.
Footnotes
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Additional information
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Auction Viewings
- 28 April 2001, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
- 27 April 2019, 09:00 - 18:00 BST
Lot symbols
| N | NOVA declaration |
| If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £350 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice. |
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