LOT 71

1956 CM 250cc Production Racing Motorcycle Frame no. MV01721 (partially deteriorated) Engine no. 250SSCM 01768

Estimate: €20,000 - €30,000

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Lot 71

1956 CM 250cc Production Racing Motorcycle

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

1956 CM 250cc Production Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. MV01721 (partially deteriorated)
Engine no. 250SSCM 01768

• Ultra-rare Italian racing motorcycle
• Ridden by Nello Pagani, Celeste Cavaciuti and Gianemilio Marchesani
• Presented in 'Milan-Taranto' specification

CM was founded in Bologna in 1930 by rider/engineers Oreste Drusiani (whose son Alfonso would later find fame with Mondial) and Mario Cavedagna. Powered by overhead-valve and overhead-camshaft engines of various capacities up to 500cc, CM's motorcycles soon gained a reputation for both indestructibility and speed, its 'cammy' 350 ridden successfully by Guglielmo Sandri in the mid-1930s being particularly noteworthy. The company kept faith with the four-stroke engine in the immediately post-war years and then in 1949 introduced the first of a range of two-strokes, the ultimate expression of which was a 250cc twin, as seen here. But the company was not yet done with four-stroke models, launching the overhead-cam Francolino 175 sports roadster in 1956. Belatedly climbing aboard the scooter bandwagon in 1958, the firm had ceased production by the decade's end.

The vendor advises us that this ultra-rare Italian racing motorcycle was ridden by Nello Pagani, Celeste Cavaciuti and Gianemilio Marchesani, the latter achieving two fifth places, one seventh and one third place in the Italian championship with it. With its current setup, complete with lights, this machine participated in the Milan-Taranto long-distance road race. The machine carries the Turin registration number 'TO12 4336' but there are no documents offered with it.

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

1956 CM 250cc Production Racing Motorcycle
Cadre n°MV01721 (Partiellement détèrioré)
Moteur n°250SSCM 01768
• Rarissime moto italienne de course
• Pilotée par Nello Pagani, Celeste Cavaciuti et Gianemilio Marchesani
• Présentée dans sa version 'Milan-Tarente'

CM fut fondé à Bologne en 1930 par les pilotes et ingénieurs Oreste Drusiani (dont le fils Alfonso allait plus tard se faire un nom chez Mondial) et Mario Cavedagna. Les motos CM, équipées de moteurs de différentes cylindrées allant jusqu'à 500 cm3, à soupapes en tête ou à arbre à cames en tête, ne tardèrent pas à acquérir la réputation d'engins rapides et indestructibles ; ses 350 "pointues" pilotées avec succès au milieu des années 1930 par Guglielmo Sandri sont particulièrement dignes d'intérêt. Dans l'immédiat après-guerre, la firme resta fidèle au quatre-temps, puis elle lança en 1949 la première moto d'une gamme de deux-temps, dont l'apogée fut la bicylindre 250 cm3 proposée ici. Elle n'en avait pour autant pas terminé avec les quatre-temps et présenta en 1956 la Francolino 175 à arbre à cames en tête, une moto de tourisme sportif. Après avoir abordé avec retard en 1958 le marché du scooter, la firme mit fin à son activité à la fin de la décennie.

Son vendeur nous informe que cette rarissime moto italienne de course fut pilotée par Nello Pagani, Celeste Cavaciuti et Gianemilio Marchesani et que ce dernier décrocha deux cinquièmes places, une septième et un troisième en Championnat d'Italie. Dans sa configuration actuelle, complète avec éclairage, cette moto a participé au Milan-Tarente, la course de longue distance sur route ouverte. Elle est immatriculée à Turin sous le numéro TO12 4336, mais elle n'est accompagnée d'aucun document.

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

Celeste Cavaciuti was killed in an accident in 1953. Therefore if this CM dates from 1956 Cavaciuti cannot have ridden it.

Additional information

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