1959 Benelli 248cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle

• One of only four built
• Believed to be the most complete and original survivor
• In-period Grand Prix racing history
• Restored circa 2004
• Present ownership since 2012
• Run within the last two years

Its factory destroyed by the Allies and then looted by the Germans, Benelli took time to re-establish itself after WW2. Fortunately, the racing machines had been hidden away and survived intact, providing the Italian concern with a valuable springboard from which to renew its Grand Prix campaign. Rivals Moto Guzzi secured the first post-war 250cc World Championship in 1949, but Benelli struck back the following year when Dario Ambrosini became champion at the end of a season that included wins in Switzerland, Italy and the Isle of Man. Sadly, Ambrosini's death in 1951 at the Isle of Man TT effectively put an end to Benelli's international efforts and it would be 1959 before the firm returned to the Grand Prix scene.

The machine offered here – '1003 GPX' – is one of only four Benelli 250cc singles built initially for the 1959 season and substantially reworked for 1960. For 1959 Benelli had developed a new, short-stroke (70x64.8mm) 250 engine that produced 33-35bhp at 10,200rpm. The camshafts were driven by a train of gears, a Benelli hallmark, while other notable features included twin-plug ignition and a six-speed gearbox. Despite an increase in power over its predecessor, the new Benelli 250 faced much stiffer opposition than before; by 1960 MV and Ducati were fielding twin-cylinder machines in the 250cc class and Honda had just stepped in with a four, leading Benelli to conclude that a multi-cylinder design was the only realistic option for the future. Nevertheless, the 250 single did achieve a victory by Geoff Duke during the 1959 Swiss Grand Prix, Dickie Dale finished 2nd at the 1959 Imola Gold Cup and Silvio Grassetti finished 3rd in the 1960 Austrian GP at Salzburg. The works singles were ridden initially by Bruno Spaggiari and Silvio Grassetti, and also by Dickie Dale, Duke, Tarquinio Provini, Paolo Campanelli and Giuseppe Vicenzi.

The new Benelli four's arrival having rendered the 250 single obsolete, the last three were sold: one to Fron Purslow (notably ridden by Mike Hailwood) and one to Hector Dugdale. Fron Purslow's rider John Hartle contested several events with his Benelli until sidelined by injury. Mike Hailwood then took over the ride, scoring a debut win on Purslow's Benelli at Mallory Park in May 1962, and was lying fourth in that year's Lightweight TT in the Isle of Man when the engine blew on the final lap.

The fourth Benelli 250 single, '1003 GPX', was sold to Belgian privateer Marcel Toussaint, who rode it quite successfully for a number of years. Immediately prior to the sale, in 1961, '1003 GPX' had been loaned by Mimo Benelli to Dutch racer, Casper Swart, who finished 7th on it at the Dutch TT at Assen and raced it again two weeks later at Spa Francorchamps. Toussaint rode the Benelli in his first Grand Prix in 1962, the Spanish round of the World Championship held at Montjuic Park, Barcelona. He continued to race the Benelli in GPs and lesser local races for several years before selling it to another Belgian, Willy Widar, who only raced it in a few classic events.

Escaping the fate of becoming an increasingly uncompetitive club racer, the Benelli was retired intact and it is believed Widar sold the machine to Switzerland, after which it passed to a German enthusiast who sold it to Jürgen Wiehage. Mr Wiehage restored the machine to its present condition and raced it at a few European classic events before a piston failure in 2004 at the Bikers' Classic necessitated an engine rebuild, it was planned to change to electronic ignition but in the end Wiehage didn't do it. The evidence can be seen by the alloy plug in the engine cover.

Three other examples of Benelli's final Grand Prix 250 single are known to exist: '1000 GPX' is in a private collection in Bergamo, Italy, '1001 GPX' resides within a private collection in Germany, while '1002 GPX' was sold by John Surtees to Giancarlo Morbidelli and spent many years undergoing restoration before being sold by Bonhams at Bicester in August 2020 (Lot 679). The current vendor purchased '1003 GPX' at Bonhams' Stafford sale in October 2012 (Lot 364A). Of the four, '1003 GPX' is believed to be the most complete and original, and the only one in full running order.

Recounting the story of his Benelli in The Classic Motorcycle magazine (June 2021 edition) out vendor recalled: "In January 2013, it was time to start the bike... The Benelli had not been run for at least six years, so good care had to be taken. Fan heaters were deployed to warm the crankcases and R40 oil heated before being put into the oil tank. With a plug out, the engine was rotated on starting rollers until oil returned to the tank. Fuel was added... the battery connected and the engine started readily, sounding mechanically very sweet but with a very loud exhaust note... It was an exciting and anxious time, but we were all quite jubilant."

Despite the Benelli's excessively loud exhaust, the vendor was permitted to complete three parade laps of Cadwell Park during the Morini Riders' Club's track day in July 2013, finding it quite tractable and beautifully easy to ride. The Benelli also had an outing at the circuit of Varano de' Melagari in Italy in 2014. Run within the last two years, the machine is offered with a quantity of spare parts including an original, unrestored fairing; a cylinder barrel; and some special tools.

We're advised by Frank Cavens that this particular example was raced by Toussaint in period from 1962 until 1964 at 1962 Clermont Ferrand; 1962 Francorchamps; 1962 Olivers Mount; 1963 Imola coppa d oro Shell; 1963 Francorchamps; 1963 Monza; 1964 Montjuic and 1964 Mettet. As such it represents a rare opportunity to acquire a Grand Prix racing motorcycle from one of Italy's premier marques.
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