c.1960 Ducati 125 Formula III

Engine no. 78104

· One of less than 33 thought to have been built
· Arguably the most original of those left extant
· A fine, raucous, strong running F3

Ducati built a small run of bikes to run in the popular Formula 3 class. The 175 F3 was the first to be launched of these pretty privateer racers, in 1958, followed by the 125 nearly a year later. Who could resist the gold frame with maroon or red tank with a white pinstripe between them? Well, it turned out less than 100 units were built across the capacity range, the biggest a mid-blue and silver 250 F3 (starting in 1960), because they were simply too highly priced...above that of a Norton Manx, a 500cc Grand Prix bike. In the UK the 125 F3 cost nearly £478, £50 more than a Matchless G50, the Manx's closest rival. Of the near 100 built it is thought that less than 33 were 125 Formula 3s - offered between 1959-1962. And the Formula 3 road racing category was most popular in too.Italy, not the UK or the USA, and thus most 125s never left their country of origin. Although to be fair, they were raced with success in Canada, Argentina and Switzerland, too.

The 125 shared little with its big brothers, the 175 and 250. The engine, a bevel drive, overhead cam, four-stroke single, evolved out the earlier 100 (and later 125) middle-fifties Gran Sport (Marianna) single. The crankcase halves were still sand-cast but with smooth exteriors but inside the longer crankshaft ran with full-circle flywheels, two ball bearings in the timing case and a pair of angular thrust main bearings. Many were fitted with Aprilia head and taillights as well as a kickstart. The frames appear much the same as a regular Ducati single but are unique although they actually utilized different dimensions and alloy materials. In short, they were lighter and lower than their (mass) production brethren. The brakes also evolved from the Marianna, the rear had a magnesium plate. The carburetor was a Dell'Orto 22, and later a 22.5. (This bike has the later one.) Ducati's excellent 4-speed transmission – with straight-cut primary and bevel gears - completed the mechanicals.

This machine was the center piece of a large private collection in Italy and was quite often used for celebrity pictures. When acquired by the vendor some years ago, its history of neglect had been clear for all to see. Subsequently, in 2020, the engine was stripped, cleaned, re-shimmed and put back together, without being externally, at least, primped and polished. All of this work was carefully documented. The standard piston was to have given a 9:1 compression. This appears to have 12:1(!) and larger valves from a 250 have also been installed. The frame still retains its original factory paint, but the tank had already been repainted. The factory recommended warming up the sculptured motor at 7,000 rpm. Once warm, then you can go to 11,200! (A video is available of the motorcycle running.)

It is possibly the most original 125 Formula 3 extant. One rare beauty!