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LOT 61 *N

The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II c.1951 Gilera 499cc Saturno Sport Registration no. not registered Frame no. 268218 Engine no. 267594

Sold for £4,600 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 61*,N

The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II, c.1951 Gilera 499cc Saturno Sport

The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II
c.1951 Gilera 499cc Saturno Sport
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 268218
Engine no. 267594

The Lot is from outside the UK. Shippio Ltd must automatically uplift this Lot after the auction, complete all post sale import or export customs administration, and store this Lot until it is customs cleared. A compulsory fee of £350 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this. This Lot cannot be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any alternative transporter.

If the Lot is to stay in the UK or is not exported within 90 days of sale, Import VAT at 5% on the hammer price is payable.


The best known and most successful large-capacity Gilera roadster of the immediate post-WW2 period was the Saturno. First seen in 1940 in competition guise, the Saturno - a 499cc, 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. In the late 1940s the factory built a limited number of Competizione versions of the Saturno, and this model resulted in the more highly developed San Remo racer that featured a more powerful engine, blade girder fork and full-width front hub.

The design's next development, the Corsa, arrived in 1951 boasting a revised engine with increased finning and a larger sump. A telescopic front fork and conventional hydraulically damped rear shock absorbers made their first appearance on this model, giving rise to the name Piuma (feather) because of the ease of handling these advances conferred. 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 1952 and conventional coil-spring dampers at the rear soon after. Production of the Saturno range continued until 1959, its passing marking the end of the line for one of Italy's truly great classic motorcycles.

This handsome Saturno Sport is presented in restored condition and would respond well to detailing (the engine turns over).

Offered unregistered and without documents aside from a few post-restoration photographs. Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
Offered with 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 Spring Stafford Sale

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This Lot will be auctioned on Saturday 25 April, with the auction starting at 2:30pm BST.

Saleroom notices

The machine does not require a key, hence none supplied.

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  • 25 April 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
  • 26 April 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST

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*Import low rate
VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
NNOVA declaration
This machine is subject to post-sale customs administration and, for UK Buyers, a NOVA declaration. Whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice, as follows: for Live Public Sales: £350 + VAT; for Timed, Online-only Sales: £195 + VAT.

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