1975 Difazio Ducati 750
Frame no. HS/DUC/129 Engine no. 755029

The Autumn Stafford Sale: The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|20 October 2019, 11:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1975 Difazio Ducati 750
Frame no. HS/DUC/129
Engine no. 755029

This unique, prize winning, Difazio Ducati 750GTE is a fine example of the chassis innovations that arrived alongside 1970s superbikes, aimed at perfecting the handling of a new breed of 750cc motorcycles, particularly for racing. For a while these superbikes offered previously unheard of levels of power, chassis design had hardly changed since the days of lightweight 40bhp singles.

Jack (nee John) Difazio had been working on hub centre steering since 1956, but it was the arrival of disc brakes that allowed his design to be perfected. Tests by the University of Manchester proved his ideas offered many advantages, yet manufacturers were reluctant to adopt such a radical new look. It would be decades before the hub centre steered Bimota Tesi, Elf racers and Yamaha GTS 1000 appeared, all ultimately defeated by the far cheaper telescopic fork.

Difazio fitted hub centre steering to some fifty motorcycles, notably Mead and Tomkinson's "Nessie" endurance racers, but there were only ever two complete Difazio motorcycles. One had a BSA three cylinder motor, the other featured Ducati power: the latter is the machine offered here. Built by Jack Difazio in 1975 with one of the rare electric start roundcase motors (Ducati built just 400) it was renovated in 1991 and has won the Bob Currey Best Engineering prize at the Stafford Show, and third place at the World Ducati Week in Misano. It represents an opportunity to own a very usable yet unique example of pioneering design and technology from the dawn of the superbike era.

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.

Saleroom notices

There is a current V5C, old V5C and old V5, together with old MoT's, invoices and related literature offered with the Lot.

Additional information

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Collectors' Motorcycles Clearance
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