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LOT 649 N

1957 Benelli 125cc Leoncino F3 Racing Motorcycle Frame no. L64806S56 Engine no. L-4551 and L.14561S54

Sold for £4,830 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 649N

1957 Benelli 125cc Leoncino F3 Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. L64806S56 Engine no. L-4551 and L.14561S54

1957 Benelli 125cc Leoncino F3 Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. L64806S56
Engine no. L-4551 and L.14561S54

Italy's oldest surviving motorcycle manufacturer, Benelli was founded in 1911 by the six Benelli brothers. A relatively recent re-entrant into the superbike market with its Tornado-derived family of triples, Benelli is best known for its Grand Prix successes in the 1950s/1960s when it secured two 250cc World Championships, and also for its outrageous six-cylinder road bikes of the 1970s. The Italian manufacturer has, of course, always produced less exotic fare such as the Leoncino two-stroke lightweight offered here, a model that won its class in the 1953 Moto Giro d'Italia. In Competizione configuration, as seen here, the Leoncino weighed 80kg (176lb) and had a maximum of 12bhp on tap, which was good enough for a top speed of 130km/h (80mph). A model rarely seen outside its home country, this pristine Leoncino road-racer was restored in the Morbidelli Museum's workshop. The machine has been finished to look like the Leoncino ridden by Paolo Campanelli to win its class in the 1957 Moto Giro d'Italia. Mr Campanelli has signed the front number plate. Contemporary black-and-white photographs of Campanelli and his Benelli are on file together with later colour images of other examples.

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.

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  • 12 August 2020, 13:00 - 17:00 BST

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NNOVA 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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