1984 Moto Guzzi 850cc Le Mans III Café Racer
Registration no. A188 MFX
Frame no. 19807
Engine no. 20318

Hitherto an acquired taste enjoyed by a discerning minority, the big Guzzi suddenly captured the imagination of a wider public when the Le Mans burst on the scene in 1976. In 1978, the model was revamped as the Le Mans II, featuring a more elaborate Spada-style fairing, and then in 1981 came the more heavily revised Le Mans III, which incorporated new cylinder heads, a new exhaust system and refreshed styling. Without doubt one of the definitive superbikes of the 1970s, the Moto Guzzi Le Mans is today regarded as highly collectible.

This matching-numbers Le Mans III was bought in October 2011 to compete in British Historic Racing's 'BEARS': British, European, American Race Series. Post-purchase modifications include 17" wheels with Morad alloy rims; a single seat; Ducati 851 silencers; clip-on' bars; and rear-set footrests. Apart from fitting Dynatek electronic ignition, the engine was left standard. Registered with BHR (B2/12 category), the Guzzi was tested by Andy Hunt at Cadwell Park and Mike Schofield at Aintree, and then raced once by Mike at Darley Moor. Mike then decided to switch to sidecar racing for 2014, and after its solitary competitive outing the Guzzi was returned to road-legal trim last year. Accompanying documentation consists of an Historic Racing Machine Registration Certificate and a V5C document. A unique and stylish Italian café racer that, unusually, has actually seen on-track action.