Left hand drive
1960 MV Augusta 1100 D2 Autocarro Motorcycle Transporter
Chassis no. 1001022

Unlikely as it may seem, this charming light commercial vehicle was manufactured by the legendary MV Agusta. One of the most iconic marques in motorcycling history, thanks mainly to an unprecedented record of Grand Prix racing success throughout the 1950s and 1960s, MV Agusta (Meccanica Verghera Agusta) started out as an offshoot of the Agusta aviation company. The latter had been founded in 1923 by one of Italy's pioneer aviators, Count Giovanni Agusta, who first flew in 1907. When demand for its traditional product line vanished at the end of WW2, Agusta turned to motorcycle manufacturing as a means of keeping its factory and workforce occupied. In the immediate aftermath of war, what Italy needed was cheap, basic transport for the masses, which meant mopeds, lightweight motorcycles and scooters, almost all of them two-stroke powered. Even MV could not ignore the economic facts of life.

Although best known for its large-capacity four-cylinder four-strokes, MV Agusta built lightweights throughout its manufacturing career and in its early days listed small two-strokes and even a scooter. Indeed, one of the marque's earliest Grand Prix results – 5th place in the Dutch 125 round in 1950 - was achieved by a two-stroke. The company even adapted one of its motorcycles to serve as a three-wheeled delivery truck - a motocarro - the first of these lightweight commercials appearing in 1954. Four-wheeled autocarro commercials followed. These were powered by a variety of MV-built engines, the largest of which was a 1,079cc twin-cylinder diesel. Producing 27bhp, the latter powered the 1100 D2 model, which arrived in 1957 and lasted in production into the early 1960s. Why MV bothered with this market is a mystery, as there was never any chance of them competing successfully with FIAT. It is estimated that only some 2,000 1100 D2s were made.

This restored example has a flat rear bed adapted to carry three motorcycles. Offered from an exclusive Italian private collection, the vehicle is described as in generally good condition and comes with Italian registration papers. The prefect way to take your collection of MVs to the next meeting.