• Ultra-rare four-stroke 50cc racer
• Purchased circa 25 years ago
• Restored by a specialist

The Demm motorcycle company's origins date back to 1919 when Messrs Daldi and Matteucci established a small company in Milan - Società Anonima Daldi - to manufacture automotive components. In 1928 the company's name was changed to Officine Meccaniche Daldi e Matteucci and in 1939 to Demm (DEMM), an acronym for Daldi e Matteucci Milano. Production of motorcycles began around 1952/1953, by which time the firm had relocated to Porretta Terme, a town some 60 kilometres south west of Bologna, although its registered office remained in Milan.

Demm concentrated on producing mopeds and lightweight motorcycles, adding three-wheelers to the range later on. Most of the mopeds were powered by engines of up to 75cc - both two-stroke and four-stroke - while there were also motorcycles powered by overhead-camshaft engines of 125cc and 175cc. In later years Demm concentrated on 50cc mopeds and ultra-lightweights, offering a bewildering plethora of models, often with quirky names. As well as producing complete machines, Demm was a major supplier of proprietary engines to other manufacturers. Although production of motorcycles and engines ended around 1983, Demm continued selling motorcycle-related products until 1988 when the decision was taken to concentrate on the gear-cutting side of its business.

Demm was actively involved in competitions, setting 24 world speed records in the 50cc class in 1956 and winning the Italian Mountain Championship's 50cc category in 1961. The machine used to win that championship was a twin-overhead-camshaft four-stroke of advanced design. Slightly over-square with dimensions of 40mm/39mm bore/stroke, the single-cylinder Demm engine drove its upstairs camshafts via a vertical shaft and bevel gears and used an outside flywheel. The carburettor was a 16mm Dell'Orto with separate rubber-mounted float chamber, while other noteworthy features included twin-plug battery/coil ignition, geared primary drive, a multi-plate dry clutch, and an integral six-speed gearbox. This exquisite little power unit was carried in a duplex loop frame equipped with telescopic front fork and swinging-arm rear suspension, while the tyres were a skinny 2.00"x18". Thus equipped, Demm's 50cc racer tipped the scales at only 55kg (121lb). It was rumoured at the time that Demm would move up to the international stage for 1962, the first year of the 50cc World Championship, but the marque appears to have had little impact outside of its native Italy.

Purchased some 25 years ago, this ultra-rare 50cc racer was restored for Giancarlo Morbidelli by a specialist. The machine is offered with a selection of photographs and some photocopied period literature.