LOT 69

c.1957 Benelli 500cc 4-valve 'Prototype' Racing Motorcycle Registration no. unregistered Frame no. unable to locate Engine no. 02

Sold for €16,100 inc. premium

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Lot 69

c.1957 Benelli 500cc 4-valve 'Prototype' Racing Motorcycle

Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris|6 February 2025, 13:00 CET|Paris, The Grand Palais Historique

c.1957 Benelli 500cc 4-valve 'Prototype' Racing Motorcycle
Registration no. unregistered
Frame no. unable to locate
Engine no. 02

Italy's oldest surviving motorcycle manufacturer, Benelli was founded in 1911 by the six Benelli brothers. Now Chinese-owned, although still based in its home town of Pesaro, Benelli is best known for its Grand Prix successes in the 1950s and 1960s, when it secured two 250cc World Championships, and also for its outrageous six-cylinder road bikes of the 1970s.

According to our vendor, the machine offered here is a 4-valve prototype. Other notable features include gear drive to the twin overhead camshafts and an Oldani TLS front brake, while the frame has clearly been influenced by Norton's 'Featherbed'. 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

Benelli 500 cc 4 soupapes – 'Prototype' de moto de course – circa 1957
Non immatriculée
Cadre : numéro non trouvé
Moteur n° 02

Benelli, le plus ancien constructeur de motos encore en activité, fut fondé en 1911 par les six frères Benelli. Désormais à capitaux chinois, bien que toujours implanté dans sa ville natale de Pesaro, Benelli est surtout connu pour ses succès en Grand Prix dans les années 1950 et 1960, où il remporta deux Championnats du monde des 250, et aussi pour ses outrancières six-cylindres de tourisme des années 1970.

Selon son vendeur, la moto proposée est un prototype de quatre-soupapes. On notera parmi ses principales caractéristiques l'entraînement de ses deux arbres à cames en tête par engrenages et son frein avant Oldani TLS ; son cadre a clairement été influencé par celui des Norton 'Featherbed'. Pas de documents disponibles.

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 does not appear to turn over and the machine has sustained some minor paint loss to the fairing in transit. Le moteur ne semble pas tourner et la machine a subi quelques légères pertes de peinture sur le carénage pendant le transport.

Additional information

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