1950 Gilera 499cc Saturno Racing Motorcycle

Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris|1 February 2024, 12:30 CET|Paris, The Grand Palais Historique

1950 Gilera 499cc Saturno Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. 269126
Engine no. 2612250

The best known and most successful large-capacity Gilera roadster of the post-WW2 period was the 500cc Saturno. First seen in 1940 in competition guise, the Saturno - an overhead-valve, four-stroke single - did not enter production until 1946 when it appeared with the horizontally-sprung, friction-damped, swinging-arm rear suspension first seen on the pre-war blown 'four' racer. Major changes to the Turismo and Sport roadsters were mainly confined to the cycle parts, which were updated with a telescopic front fork and full-width alloy front brake for 1951, and conventional coil-spring dampers at the rear soon after. This competizione Saturno was raced by a competitor named Zerbinato; apart from that, nothing is known of its history. No documents.

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.

Footnotes

1950 Gilera 499cc Saturno Racing Motorcycle
Cadre n°269126
Moteur n°2612250

La grosse Gilera de tourisme la plus connue et la plus talentueuse de l'après-guerre fut la 500 cm3 Saturno. Apparue pour la première fois en 1940 en version course, la Saturno monocylindre quatre-temps à soupapes en tête ne fit pas ses débuts en production avant 1946 ; elle était alors équipée d'une suspension arrière à bras oscillant avec ressort de suspension horizontal et amortisseur à friction, vue pour la première fois avant la guerre sur les quatre-cylindres suralimentées de course. Les principales évolutions des Turismo et Sport de tourisme se limitèrent essentiellement à la partie cycle, qui fut modernisée par l'arrivée en 1951 d'une fourche avant télescopique et de freins avant élargis, en aluminium, et peu après par celle, à l'arrière, de combinés conventionnels ressorts hélicoïdaux – amortisseurs. Cette Saturno competizione fut pilotée en course par un dénommé Zerbinato. A cela près, on ne connaît rien de son historique. Pas de documents.

De même que tous les lots de cette vente, ce lot est vendu 'en l'état et à l'endroit où il se trouve' et les enchérisseurs doivent en vérifier la provenance, l'état, l'âge, la complétude et l'authenticité avant d'enchérir.

Saleroom notices

The engine is also stamped 26A5947.

Additional information

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