INSIDE:THEMVAGUSTAMUSEUM

Another religious site in Italy, and it’s closer than the Vatican.

Odd features

Designer Piero Remor defected from Gilera to MV Agusta in 1949. The dohc four-cylinder 500 that he produced for MV closely resembled his Gilera design but had some odd features, including separate gear levers on each side for up/down changes. It first raced in 1950. This 1951 version had a conventional gearshift but retained the Earles fork and twin carburettors mounted on Y-shaped manifolds.

500 cc winners

Two of the 500cc GP bikes on display. On the left is a 1973 triple. Alberto Pagani scored the 500/3’s final victory at Austria (not a GP) in September 1973. Agostini had won the bike’s first at Modena in 1966. On the right is a 1965 four of the type used by Mike Hailwood to win that year’s World title. MV reverted to a fourcylinder 500 for 1974.

Namecalling

Meccanica Verghera Agusta introduced their first motorcycle in 1945 – the Vespa. They changed the model name when they discovered Piaggio had registered it. About 1700 of this basic 98cc 2-stroke single were produced up until 1948.

MV didn’t make scooters, did they?

The name MV Agusta rarely brings scooters to mind but they produced tens of thousands from 1949 till 1964. From L to R: 1949 125 Tipo A, 1952 125 CSL, 1954 125 CGT and 1955 125 Pullman prototype. The defining feature of most of MV’S scooters is their exposed engines, however their final model, the 150 Chicco, did use an enclosing pressed steel monocoque chassis and a bespoke engine.

‘The name MV Agusta rarely brings scooters to mind but they produced tens of thousands’

Not just bikes

MV Agusta made aircraft from 1923, diversifying into motorcycles after the Second World War. They began manufacturing the Bell 47 helicopter under licence in 1952 and helicopter production continues. This is a 1958 A.103 helicopter prototype, and a 150 Rapido Sport. The 150.1cc RS was introduced in 1959 in response to a law prohibiting bikes under 150cc from using the autostradas.

‘MV’S 37 world championships came across the 125, 250, 350 and 500cc classes…’

Racing history

MV’S 37 world championships came across the 125, 250, 350 and 500cc classes. On the left is a 1956 250 Corsa. The motor was basically two 125cc singles siamesed together. It won two World Championships, in 1956 and 1958. In 1965, when their 125 fourstrokes had become uncompetitive, MV experimented with an advanced 125cc two-stroke water-cooled disc-valve single (far right) but it never raced; note the cable operated front disc brake.

Inside story

This is a cutaway of a 1975 750S America motor. It’s a slightly modified version of the 1972 750 Sport (which in turn was based on the 600 Four). The bore was increased by 2mm giving a 789cc capacity, compression was increased, and reworked heads housed larger valves but milder cams.26mmvhb Dell’orto carbs replaced the earlier UB 24mm units to help produce 75bhp at 8500rpm.

Just one appearance

The 500/6 made just one racing appearance and that was at the 1958 Nations GP, Monza. Rider John Hartle was forced to retire on lap 19 of 35 with a broken con-rod. The bike had been ridden in practice at the previous year’s event and was seen for a final time, again in practice, at the 1959 event. The two-valve motor made 75bhp at a fizzing 15,000rpm.

Four cylinder road bikes

The R19 500 (left) was shown at the 1950 Milan Show, but just one prototype was built. Many of the GP bike’s features were retained including the double swingarm and shaft drive. MV claimed 40bhp at 8000rpm and a 111mph top speed. The 1965 600 was the first MV four on public sale, three years ahead of Honda’s across the frame four, but only 127 were made.

‘MV are almost totally known for their GP and exotic four cylinder bikes…’

350 Bicilindrica Corsa

This 350 prototype of 1957 used a multitube spaceframe style chassis powered by a dohc two-cylinder engine loosely based on a proposed 300 road bike. The road bike used high-camshaft/short pushrod valvegear while the racer had geardriven dohc, but it wasn’t powerful enough to replace the existing 350 race bikes.

Basically…

While MV are almost totally known for their GP bikes and exotic four cylinder road machines the fact is it was MV’S more basic machines that made up the vast number of the bikes they sold. MVS were even built under licence in Spain for many, many years.

Not just bikes, two

Welcome to curiosity corner. The 4-wheel Vetturetta prototype from 1951 was powered by a 350cc four-stroke motor. The 1969 Overcraft (hovercraft) prototype used a 300cc two-stroke motor. At the back is one of the 50 1962 Motozappa 188 70cc tiling machines produced.