Absolutely gorgeous and correct in every detail, this is Tarquinio Provini’s 1957 mount.
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“THE DUSTBIN FAIRING AND THE BRACKETRY WERE FABRICATED BY THE SAME ARTISAN WHO MADE THE ORIGINALS! RENOWNED ALLOY FABRICATOR EVAN WILCOX THEN PERFORMED THE LATER MODIFICATIONS. THE ORIGINALS WERE DESIGNED BY AIRCRAFT COMPANY AERMACCHI: YES THEY LATER MADE MOTORCYCLES!”
“THIS BIKE IS DOCUMENTED AS COMING FROM THE COLLECTION OF EX-GRAND PRIX BIKES HELD BY THE FACTORY UNTIL 1977, AT WHICH POINT THEY WERE SOLD TO THREE ITALIANS WHO HAD COMBINED RESOURCES TO PURCHASE THEM. ONE OF THE THREE THEN SOLD HIS BIKES IN 2001 TO TWO COLLECTORS – ONE IN THE UK AND ONE IN ITALY. THE PRESENT OWNER BOUGHT THE BIKE FROM ONE OF THEM. IT WAS THEN MECHANICALLY RESTORED BY GIANCARLO MORBIDELLI WITH ROBERTO TOTTI DOING THE COSMETIC RESTORATION AND FINAL ASSEMBLY. IT IS THE BIKE PROVINI USED TO FINISH SECOND IN THE 1957 TITLE.”
“OWNER JOHN GOLDMAN PUSHES THE 250 A COUPLE OF BLOCKS THROUGH SAN FRANCISCO TRAFFIC TO THE LOCATION OF THE PHOTOSHOOT.
A FAIRLY SURREAL SIGHT!”
Phil Aynsley
Left: Beautiful, elegant simplicity. Form follows function in the streamlined lines of the dustbin fairing and seat shroud. 1957 was the last year they were allowed before safety concerns saw them banned.the alloy and seat fairings were initially copied from another Mondial but further research revealed that each rider had their own individual differences in the designs so the fairings were reworked to exactly replicate Provini’s.
Above: Alfonso Drusiani(who was responsible for the original 125 GP bike) returned to Mondial towards the end of 1956 and immediately achieved success with both his 125cc and 250cc designs.the 125 finishing first, fourth and sixth in 1957 and the 250 taking the top three places that same year.
Right: Depending on the circuit, the engine could be fitted with five, six or seven speeds in the gearbox. As restored it is fitt ed with six.
The bevel-driven motor put out fractionally less than the gear-driven version’s 29hp at 10,800rpm. Dry weight (with the fairings) was only 110kg.top speed was timed at Monza at 137mph. 1: A 32mm Dell’orto SS1 is fitted.the exposed hairpin valve springs can also be seen. In the days of frequently broken springs having them exposed allowed for quick changes.
2: Only Provini used the 1956 version of the engine during 1957.This featured beveldriven camshafts rather than the vertical cascade of gears the other 1957 bikes, used by team-mates Cecil Sandford (first) and Sammy Miller (third), employed. Provini believed the bevel-drive motor to be more reliable.
Oldani brakes are used. A 220mm twin leadingshoe on the front and single-leading shoe at the rear. 1 2
Mondial won every GP race they entered in 1949, 1950 and 1951 with their 125cc machines.the company did not fully focus on Grand Prix again until 1957 when they won both the 125 and 250cc titles.