MOTO GUZZI 500 DONDOLINO

Unregistered
Frame n° 24838

- Rare racing bike
- Complete restoration
- Representative of Moto Guzzi’s golden age in racing

As François Chevalier stresses: “Unlike me, Bruno Lafourcade had a penchant for Moto Guzzis. He loved them in the same way he loved Bugattis.” It is for this reason that his collection included four bikes from Mandello del Lario, among them this magnificent 500 Dondolino. A true ‘customer competition’ model built by the factory, the 500 Dondolino was developed from the pre-war Condor. A large-diameter magnesium drum brake, a single rear spring and a streamlined mudguard were the main changes made to the chassis. The engine had new carburettor, ignition and timing settings, as well as a balance wheel with a rectangular cross-section. There were enough changes to the single-cylinder pushrod engine for the bike to reach 170kph. This example has a fairly complete recent history. Bought at a sale held by order of the court in Italy in 1969 or 1970, amazingly, the Dondolino has been converted into a street-legal machine! At the end of the 1970s, the bike was sold “with its engine seized” to a new owner. The Dondolino was completely restored in the Altinier Motorcycle workshops from 1986-87, and Lafourcade acquired it in 2003. A document from a recognised expert confirms the conformity of this rare machine.

The auction of this lot will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-moto-guzzi-500-dondolino-no-reserve-4134-122