1965 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson 246cc Ala Verde
Frame no. 223450
Engine no. 250N-241766

• Charismatic Italian 'flat single'
• Five-speed model
• Professionally restored

A household name among motorcyclists thanks to its heroic achievement of producing the most highly developed and successful overhead-valve racing single ever, Aermacchi was a relative latecomer to motorcycle manufacture, building its first machine, the curious scooter-like Convertible, in the late 1940s. Aermacchi's first 'proper' motorcycle, the two-stroke Monsone, appeared in 1950, but it was not until 1956 that the firm's trademark horizontally mounted four-stroke single made its debut in the Chimera. Featuring enclosed bodywork reminiscent of Ariel's Arrow, but bags more stylish, the Chimera would remain in production until 1960. Before then it had been joined by a quartet of more conventionally styled machines in 175cc and 250cc capacities, the sporting version of the '250' being the 80mph Ala Verde. The racing versions were christened 'Ala d'Oro' (Golden Wing). Alberto Pagani's 9th place on the 250's Dutch TT debut in 1960 demonstrated the racer's potential, which was confirmed the following week when Pagani finished 5th at the Belgian Grand Prix.

That same year an unlikely alliance between the Aermacchi concern and Harley-Davidson resulted in the former's lightweight motorcycles being sold in the USA alongside H-D's traditional big v-twins. Marketed as Harley-Davidsons in the USA and as Aermacchi Harley-Davidsons elsewhere, the first models offered were re-badged versions of Aermacchi's 250 and 350cc four-stroke horizontal singles. The latter remained in the Harley range until the end of the 1974 model year, falling sales forcing their discontinuation. Aermacchi's two-strokes also formed part of the line-up between 1973 and 1978, at which point H-D's new owners - AMF - sold off their share of the Italian concern to Cagiva.

The five-speed Ala Verde offered here has covered relatively few kilometres since a comprehensive professional restoration, and comes with FIM homologation papers testifying to its originality. The competition-type Veglia rev counter, complete with original mounting, is particularly worthy of note.