MOTO GUZZI – HISTORY OF A LEGEND

When in our latitudes the motorcycle season is slowly coming to an end, a nice tour around the northern Italian lakes might just be the ticket. One compulsory stop on such a tour would be Lake Como, not just for its natural beauty and awe-inspiring views, but also to experience the great motorcycle history of Moto Guzzi in the small town of Mandello del Lario.

This community of just 11.000 souls is the place where Moto Guzzi started setting motorcycle standards 95 years ago.

The roots of Moto Guzzi

In 1921, Giorgio Parodi and his friend Carlo Guzzi, a former comrade in the Royal Air Force, founded the joint stock company Moto Guzzi. Parodi’s father Emanuelle Vittorio, a shipowner from Genua, provided financial support. Initially a third person was supposed to be involved in founding the company. Tragically Giovanni Ravelli died in a plane crash in 1919 and therefore wouldn’t experience the birth of Moto Guzzi. In memory of him, and because of the connection of all three to aviation, the distinctive brand logo with an eagle spreading its wings was created.

The rise of Moto Guzzi was rapid from the start. The first prototype carried the initials of Guzzi and Parodi and thus called the G.P. It formed the basis for the “Normale” of which 17 vehicles were built in the first year. Successes in racing, the world’s first wind tunnel for motorcycles in 1950 and media-effective testimony of the performances of the machines laid the foundation Moto Guzzi’s excellent reputation. A nice example of such high-profile media coverage was when Giuseppe Guzzi drove a G.T. on an expedition to the Arctic Circle in Norway. A feat which earned the machine the nickname “Norge”.

MOTO GUZZI – POST-WAR

After World War II, Guzzi understood there was a need for small and cheap transportation. The Guzzino 65, the first two-stroke engine from Mandello del Lario, was the best-selling motorcycle in Europe for years and was followed by the Cardellino. A milestone was the construction of the two-cylinder in a V arrangement with a longitudinal crankshaft. This engine would become a symbol for Moto Guzzi like no other. Starting with the V7 in 1966, the engines were perfected and used in legendary machines such as the V7 Sport, the Tourer California, and the smaller-capacity motorcycles V35 and V50.
Despite all their successes, Moto Guzzi struggled with economic difficulties again and again. In 2000 the company was bought by Aprilia. In 2004 both brands became part of the Piaggio group enabling Moto Guzzi to preserve their glorious history and keep building motorcycles that will last for decades.

Text Paolo Ollig  Photos Moto Guzzi

Author: Classic Trader

Die Classic Trader Redaktion besteht aus Oldtimer-Enthusiasten, die Euch mit spannenden Geschichten versorgen. Kaufberatungen, unsere Traum Klassiker, Händlerportraits und Erfahrungsberichte von Messen, Rallyes und Events. #drivenbydesire View all posts by Classic Trader →