LOT 438
1953 MV Agusta 123.5cc Monoalbero Racing Motorcycle Registration no. not registered Frame no. 150171 Engine no. 150027
Sold for £17,250 inc. premium
Lot 438
1953 MV Agusta 123.5cc Monoalbero Racing MotorcycleRegistration no. not registered Frame no. 150171 Engine no. 150027
The Autumn Sale - The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Stafford|9 October 2021, 12:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground
1953 MV Agusta 123.5cc Monoalbero Racing Motorcycle
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 150171
Engine no. 150027
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 150171
Engine no. 150027
• Over-the-counter racer for privateers
• Imported new by Bill Webster
• Part of the Phil Morris Collection since c.2009
Although best known for their four-cylinder four-strokes, multiple World Championship-winning MV-Agusta built lightweights throughout its manufacturing career, and in its early days listed small two-strokes and even a scooter. The racing 125cc two-strokes were a major success, winning the arduous Milan-Taranto road race in 1950, '51 and '52, but at World Championship level the MVs were outclassed by the four-stroke FB-Mondial with its twin-overhead-cam engine. Count Agusta's response was to hire Gilera's chief designer Piero Remor together with its chief mechanic, Arturo Magni. However, the new Remor-designed 125cc four-stroke was not an immediate success, and it was only following Mondial's withdrawal from racing that MV bagged its first 125cc World Championship, Cecil Sandford taking the riders' title in 1952.
The following year MV offered an over-the-counter racer for privateers, which was developed directly from the works bikes. Italian regulations for the domestic 'Formula Sport' stipulated that machines should have only a single camshaft and four gears, and so the monoalbero (single-camshaft) 125 racer was born. Like its bialbero (twin-cam) progenitor, the SOHC 125 employed a train of gears to drive its upstairs cam. Bore and stroke were 53x56mm and the motor breathed via a 27mm Dell'Orto racing carburettor, eventually producing a maximum of 16bhp at 10,300rpm. The cycle parts were virtually an exact copy of the '52 works bikes', featuring a tubular duplex loop frame, telescopic front fork with central hydraulic damper, and swinging-arm rear suspension. Brakes were full-width aluminium-alloy: 7" diameter at the front, 6" at the rear. Dry weight was 165lbs and the top speed over 90mph. Because Italy's long-distance road races, such as the Moto Giro d'Italia and Milan-Taranto required that machines be street legal and possess lights, a flywheel generator formed part of the specification. The MV Agusta monoalbero 125 racer proved an enormous success, remaining in production until 1956 and continuing to offer privateers a competitive ride in the 125cc class for many years thereafter.
This monoalbero was brought into the UK by MV importer Bill Webster. In the past it has been claimed that this particular machine was ridden by Webster in the Isle of Man TT races in the early/mid-1950s before being passed on to Mike Hailwood for 1957 (see Brooks Auctioneers' Stafford sale catalogue description from April 2000 on file). However, there is no documentary evidence on file to support these claims.
It has been suggested that this MV may be the one ridden by Don Whelan in the 1960 Isle of Man Ultra-Lightweight TT, in which he failed to finish. Following Whelan's death, that machine passed to Ivan Rhodes, who raced it once at Cadwell Park. It then passed to Harry Phillips and his son Ron (of Fahron Engineering fame) circa 1966. Ron fitted a Bultaco engine into the MV before it was sold on. In the late 1970s, Ron received a letter from someone in Surrey stating that they had retrieved the original engine. Ron has confirmed to Bonhams that the machine he obtained from Ivan Rhodes is not the one offered here.
The machine in this sale was purchased in 1985 from a Bugatti collector in Gloucester (believed to be Geoffrey St John) by well-known collector Eric Biddle for John Howson. Harold Lomas (father of World Champion Bill Lomas) then rebuilt the engine circa 1986/1987. In 1998 the MV was purchased from John Howson by collector Martyn Simpkins, who was Brooks' vendor in 2000. The machine's purchaser at that time was the late Jim Lilley, from whose estate it was acquired by Phil Morris circa 2009. Phil commissioned the fabrication of the 'dustbin' fairing the machine features today. Further research into this machine's may yet prove rewarding.
• Imported new by Bill Webster
• Part of the Phil Morris Collection since c.2009
Although best known for their four-cylinder four-strokes, multiple World Championship-winning MV-Agusta built lightweights throughout its manufacturing career, and in its early days listed small two-strokes and even a scooter. The racing 125cc two-strokes were a major success, winning the arduous Milan-Taranto road race in 1950, '51 and '52, but at World Championship level the MVs were outclassed by the four-stroke FB-Mondial with its twin-overhead-cam engine. Count Agusta's response was to hire Gilera's chief designer Piero Remor together with its chief mechanic, Arturo Magni. However, the new Remor-designed 125cc four-stroke was not an immediate success, and it was only following Mondial's withdrawal from racing that MV bagged its first 125cc World Championship, Cecil Sandford taking the riders' title in 1952.
The following year MV offered an over-the-counter racer for privateers, which was developed directly from the works bikes. Italian regulations for the domestic 'Formula Sport' stipulated that machines should have only a single camshaft and four gears, and so the monoalbero (single-camshaft) 125 racer was born. Like its bialbero (twin-cam) progenitor, the SOHC 125 employed a train of gears to drive its upstairs cam. Bore and stroke were 53x56mm and the motor breathed via a 27mm Dell'Orto racing carburettor, eventually producing a maximum of 16bhp at 10,300rpm. The cycle parts were virtually an exact copy of the '52 works bikes', featuring a tubular duplex loop frame, telescopic front fork with central hydraulic damper, and swinging-arm rear suspension. Brakes were full-width aluminium-alloy: 7" diameter at the front, 6" at the rear. Dry weight was 165lbs and the top speed over 90mph. Because Italy's long-distance road races, such as the Moto Giro d'Italia and Milan-Taranto required that machines be street legal and possess lights, a flywheel generator formed part of the specification. The MV Agusta monoalbero 125 racer proved an enormous success, remaining in production until 1956 and continuing to offer privateers a competitive ride in the 125cc class for many years thereafter.
This monoalbero was brought into the UK by MV importer Bill Webster. In the past it has been claimed that this particular machine was ridden by Webster in the Isle of Man TT races in the early/mid-1950s before being passed on to Mike Hailwood for 1957 (see Brooks Auctioneers' Stafford sale catalogue description from April 2000 on file). However, there is no documentary evidence on file to support these claims.
It has been suggested that this MV may be the one ridden by Don Whelan in the 1960 Isle of Man Ultra-Lightweight TT, in which he failed to finish. Following Whelan's death, that machine passed to Ivan Rhodes, who raced it once at Cadwell Park. It then passed to Harry Phillips and his son Ron (of Fahron Engineering fame) circa 1966. Ron fitted a Bultaco engine into the MV before it was sold on. In the late 1970s, Ron received a letter from someone in Surrey stating that they had retrieved the original engine. Ron has confirmed to Bonhams that the machine he obtained from Ivan Rhodes is not the one offered here.
The machine in this sale was purchased in 1985 from a Bugatti collector in Gloucester (believed to be Geoffrey St John) by well-known collector Eric Biddle for John Howson. Harold Lomas (father of World Champion Bill Lomas) then rebuilt the engine circa 1986/1987. In 1998 the MV was purchased from John Howson by collector Martyn Simpkins, who was Brooks' vendor in 2000. The machine's purchaser at that time was the late Jim Lilley, from whose estate it was acquired by Phil Morris circa 2009. Phil commissioned the fabrication of the 'dustbin' fairing the machine features today. Further research into this machine's may yet prove rewarding.
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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