LOT 383
Offered from the estate of the late Alain de Cadenet 1975 Ducati 900SS Registration no. LJD 241P (see text) Frame no. DM750SS*075866* Engine no. 086215 DM860.1
Offered from the estate of the late Alain de Cadenet , 1975 Ducati 900SS
Offered from the estate of the late Alain de Cadenet
1975 Ducati 900SS
Registration no. LJD 241P (see text)
Frame no. DM750SS*075866*
Engine no. 086215 DM860.1
1975 Ducati 900SS
Registration no. LJD 241P (see text)
Frame no. DM750SS*075866*
Engine no. 086215 DM860.1
• Believed single ownership from new
• 15,865 recorded miles
• Offered for sympathetic recommissioning or restoration
Ducati's second-generation v-twin engine – the 900cc 'square case' (actual capacity 864cc) – debuted in the 860GT of 1974 and, the following year, powered the new 900SS superbike. Styled like the original 750SS developed from Paul Smart's 1972 Imola winner, the 900SS shared the desmodromic valve gear of its smaller sibling but introduced a host of updates: revised camshaft drive, improved oil pump, cartridge oil filter, electronic ignition, left-side gearchange, and an updated frame with chain adjustment at the swinging arm pivot. Breathing through massive 40mm Dell'Ortos, the 900SS produced 70bhp at 7,500rpm – good for 135mph – and, as Bike magazine noted in 1977, combined "uncanny smoothness" with "dramatically punchy power output." Its race-bred character was unmistakable: "While other flash Italian bikes are basically roadsters dressed up and pretending to be racers, this is the real thing," declared Bike.
Believed to have been owned by the late Alain de Cadenet from new, this first-year 900SS was painted by him in the same colour as the de Cadenet-Lola he campaigned at Le Mans. De Cadenet's 1975 season marked the beginning of his most successful period at Le Mans, driving the privately entered, Crosthwaite & Gardiner-prepared, Ford DFV-powered de Cadenet-Lola with co-driver Chris Craft. Against the might of the factory teams, they finished 14th in 1975, went on to take an extraordinary third overall in 1976, and fifth in 1977 – achievements that remain a testament to Alain's skill, determination, and engineering collaboration with C&G.
The Ducati appears to remain in highly original 'garage find' condition and is offered ready for sympathetic recommissioning and/or restoration. The registration has lapsed from the DVLA database and, at the time of cataloguing, no documentation or key had been located.
Offered without key
Footnotes
All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Please see the Auction Information and Guide for Buyers at the top of the main sale page, for bidders' obligations. The Autumn Stafford Sale
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This Lot will be auctioned on Sunday 12 October, with the auction starting at 11am GMT.
Saleroom notices
The odometer reading is 15,865 kilometres opposed to miles. Offered with small sundry spares.
Additional information
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