Aermacchi
1946 - 1963
Motorcycle history
Aermacchi (Società Commerciale Aeronautica), founded in Varese, was mainly known for aircraft and motorcycles. In 1946 they represented a small car under the brand name Macchitre MB 1. On the basis of this vehicle were produced up to the 50's last three-wheeled mobile. Start with 2-cylinder engines equipped vehicles have been used mostly for the local area and are therefore rapidly. After the end of the 2nd World War II turned the company "Società Commerciale Aeronautica" to once again to the motorcycle. Only in 1963 we again started a small-car project under the name "Gabry. In the 70s, Harley-Davidson took over the management of the company. Later, the motorcycle division under the brand name "Caviga" was again an independent company.
Soon after World War II had ended it was decided to start peacetime production with a three-wheeler truck. This was an unorthodox but very good design. Then, anticipating the motorcycle boom and intending to have a stake in it, the Aermacchi chiefs looked for a good designer who could produce an attractive lightweight. Their choice was Lino Tonti, who had been at Benelli and had worked on aircraft engines during the war. Tonti designed a 50 cc motorcycle that broke the land speed record for the displacement.
The bikes produced by Aermacchi were quite successful in the postwar Italian market, also thanks to their repeated placements on the race tracks. The firm designed and produced models incorporating the Italian word "Ala" (wing) in its names, such as "Ala Verde", "Ala Blu" and "Ala d'Oro" (respectively "green wing", "blue wing" and "golden wing").
Aermacchi bikes re-badged as Harley-Davidsons
In the 1960s, 50% of Aermacchi stock was acquired by Harley-Davidson to produce, in its assembly plant at Schiranna (near Varese), several models of small bikes (with engine displacement between 125cc and 350cc) for the American and the European market. This was an attempt to take back market sectors that were at the time increasingly being taken by Japanese manufacturers such as Honda and Yamaha. Aermacchi went on to have success in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world with rider Renzo Pasolini finishing 2nd in the 1972 250 cc Roadracing World Championship. After 1974, when the American manufacturer acquired complete control of the Italian company, Aermacchi bikes re-badged as Harley-Davidsons won the 250 cc Roadracing World Championship three years in a row in 1974, 1975 and 1976. They also won the 350 cc World Championship in 1976. Upon the acquisition of Harley-Davidson by AMF in 1978, the Italian operations of the firm were sold to the Castiglioni brothers, founders of the Cagiva motorcycle company, which continued to produce bikes branded "HD Cagiva" until 1980.
Aermacchi re-badged as Harley-Davidson SST 250
Aermacchi re-badged as Harley-Davidson SS 250/175
Aermacchi re-badged as Harley-Davidson SS 125
List of Models
- 1912 - Aeronautica Macchi was founded by Giulio Macchi
- 1945 - Three Wheel Truck MB1 is indroduced
- 1951 - Aermacchi started to manufacture motorcycles
- 1956 - The 175cc Chimera was introduced; Speed Records: 50cc standing mile = 82.530 kph; 75cc flying mile = 161.337 kph; 75cc flying kilometer = 167.208
- 1957 - Chimera 175cc
- 1958 - Chimera 175cc ,Chimera 250cc
- 1959 - Chimera 175cc ,Chimera 250cc
- 1960 - Chimera 175cc, Chimera 250cc, Harley-Davidson bought 50% of Aermacchi, Italy
- 1961 - Chimera 175cc ,Chimera 250cc
- 1963 - (Brezza) ,Chimera 250cc
- 1964 - (Brezza) ,Chimera 250cc
- 1965 - (M-50), (Brezza)
- 1966 - (M-50), (Brezza)
- 1967 - (M-65, Brezza, Sprint 250cc SS, Sprint 250cc H)
- 1968 - (M-50, Rapido MLS, Brezza)
- 1969 - (Brezza), Harley-Davidson is adopted by AMF (American Machine & Foundry), (350cc Sprint)
- 1970 - (Leggero, Baja, Rapido, Leggero, Ala Verde 250, Sprint ERS, SS-350, GT-350)
- 1971 - (Leggero, Baja, RC-125, Rapido, Ala Verde 250, SS-350, 350-TV, GT-350)
- 1972 - (Shortster, Leggero, Baja, Rapido, Ala Verde 250, 350-TV, SS-350, SX-350, GT-350, Sprint ERS)
- 1973 - (X-90, Z-90, Baja, Rapido, SX-125, RC-125, TX-125, SS-350, SX-350)
- 1974 - World Championship 250ccm, Walter Villa RR-250, (X-90, Z-90, Baja, RC-125, SXT-125, SX-175, SS-350)
- 1975 - World Championship 250ccm, Walter Villa RR-250, (X-90, Z-90, SXT-125, SX-175, SX-250, SS-250)
- 1976 - World Championship 250ccm, Walter Villa RR-250 and also in the 350ccm class, (SXT-125, SST-250)
- 1977 - (SXT-125, MX-250)
- 1978 - (MX-250), Aermacchi is completely sold to the Cagiva-Group
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