1934 Benelli Monalbero Sport

Engine no. 1614HC

· Gorgeous mid-1930s Italian design masterpiece
· World leading camshaft technology
· Restored by Serge Bueno at Heroes Motors

Previewing in Los Angeles, California by Appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.


In today's digital world, many of us are desirous of being able to look back and dream of what was, and what might have been, knowing that we have - or at least someone does - the ability at out fingertips to make that dream come true. And we now live in a world of custom, outlaw, replica and reimagined 'originals.' This 1935 Benelli 500 Monalbero – single overhead camshaft – is a stunning result of such a modern imagination for the Benelli brothers never built a race version of their production Sport street bike. If they had done it may well have looked like this one.

Italy's oldest surviving motorcycle manufacturer, Fratelli Benelli, was founded in Pesaro in 1911 by the six Benelli brothers encouraged and funded by their widowed mother, Teresa, starting out as a general engineering firm repairing cars and motorcycles before turning to the manufacture of automotive and aircraft components in WW1. The firm diversified into the field of powered transport immediately after the First War offering a two-stroke 'clip-on' power unit for attachment to a bicycle, and it was this 98cc engine, installed in a purpose-built set of cycle parts, that was used for the first proper Benelli motorcycle of 1921.

Quickly progress was made with a 150cc four-stroke single with road racing also in mind. A young Tonino Benelli, on his family machine, was fast enough to compete at the top in Italy for several years with the 150 and then a 175, both monalbero (single overhead camshaft) racers. Late into the 1920s and 1930s business went well for Benelli even to the point where they joined the elite Pentrachia of motorcycle brands who made some of the fastest, technologically exciting racing motoprcycle the world has ever since...Benelli, Bianchi, Garelli, Gilera and Guzzi. Benelli's ultimate contribution pre-WW2 was their DOHC, supercharged, 4-cylinder 250cc GP bike ultimately shelved during the war years.

Fortunately for Benelli much of the Grand Prix race-bike magic was rubbed into their production street bikes of the period giving the demanding rider the ultimate riding experience plus personality to spare with immediately recognizable and engaging design and unmistakable, sporty looks.

This gorgeous, 1934 Benelli Monalbero 500 was imported to the USA from France where it was fully restored and rebuilt by Serge Bueno from Heroes Motors.

This Benelli 496cc Sport/Corsa, with magneto ignition and that stack of gears to drive the single overhead camshaft, could be a useful vintage race bike. And the appearance and beauty of the engine is clearly like no other. The pre-War Benelli 250s and 500s are certainly among the most beautiful pre-war Italian bikes bar none.