Aermacchi Reborn

Aermacchi Reborn

Realizing at long last that their Italian factory was leading to more and more lost money, AMF-Harley-Davidson decided last summer to close the factory. Cagiva, a hardware factory from nearby Varese already involved in GP racing, bought the factory and is beginning production. Named after the founder, Cas tiglioni Giovanni Varese, Cagiva now is run by Claudio and Giovanni Varese who have plans to save the legendary GP racing MVs from ruin.

Several models are planned by the firm. New light and medium weight Street twostrokes, 125 and 250cc motocroSs models, and a revised 300cc four-stroke Single based on the old Aermacchi 250cc are planned. GP racing will be resumed when the 250cc rotary valve Twin (54 bhp claimed at 10,800 rpm) and a 500cc Four are produced. Two models of the four stroke Single have been planned. a scram bler and an electric start roadster. Both use a 294cc version of the Single with 72 x 72mm bore and stroke, the size used with best success by the racing Aermacchis.

—Carlo Perelli