1960 Capriolo 125 Gran Turismo Project
Registration no. RFO 372
Frame no. 61329
Engine no. 62070

Named after the roe deer, the Capriolo marque emerged in 1948 from the ashes of the giant Caproni group, formerly one of Italy's largest manufacturing concerns. Caproni had been founded in the 20th Century's first decade as an aircraft manufacturer, and only turned to motorcycle production after WW2. The firm commenced with a 50cc ultra-lightweight before swiftly moving on to a 75cc model, the Capriolo 75, which was notable for its use of a pressed-style frame and a four-stroke engine of the overhead 'face cam' type. The unusual, for Italy, horizontally-opposed Capriolo Cento 50 was followed, in 1955, by the more conventional Capriolo 125, which featured a single-cylinder overhead-camshaft engine, the 'face cam' type having been temporarily dropped. In 1957 the company was reorganised and adopted the 'Aeromere' name, a shortened form of Aero Meccanica Regionale. Its motorcycles continued to be badged as 'Capriolo' until production ceased in 1963.

The machine offered here represents the revised version of the Capriolo 125, introduced in 1959, which, like the contemporary Capriolo 75, featured a new 'face cam' engine. Owned by the vendor since 1990, it is presented in original condition, ripe for sympathetic restoration. We are advised that the engine turns (with compression) and the gears select. Offered with V5C document.