The Birdwood Benelli

Back in 1973, a rather exotic racer arrived in Melbourne. The four-cylinder 350cc Benelli was initially thought to have been raced by Australian 250cc

World Champion Kel Carruthers, but is now thought to be one of the 1969/70 team machines ridden by

Renzo Pasolini. The Benelli was exhibited at the September 1973 International Motorcycle Show in Melbourne. Following the show, nothing was heard of the Benelli until it turned up at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, South Australia.

Museum curator Matthew Lombard says there are plans to refurbish the Benelli, and that discussions are underway with a well-known motorcycle engineer to carry out work. “We need to establish just what condition the engine is in before we go any further” says Matthew. “We would be happy to put some of the mystery behind this bike to bed, once and for all.”

Rob Lewis supplied the photographs of the tired but original old racer, which may be heading for a long-overdue freshen up. Watch this space.

This photo graced the front page of REVS Motorcycle News in August, 1973. It shows Peter Sharp demonstrating just how light the Benelli was or is. Perhaps it may be short of a few engine internals?

ABOVE The Benelli on display at Birdwood. The twin disc front brake was made for Benelli by Bo Gehring in West Virginia, USA in 1965. The normally-used brake was a double-sided Ceriani drum.