1949 MV Agusta 125cc 'Quattro Marce' Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. to be advised
Engine no. 16527-SS-2

• Early MV Agusta racing model
• Four-speed version
• An older restoration

Although best known for their racing and road-going 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. Much better engineered than any British contemporary, the 125 MV was powered by a neat unitary construction single-cylinder engine which, somewhat unusually for a post-war design, featured detachable transfer ports. The cycle parts comprised a twin-downtube swinging-arm frame and blade-type girder forks.

As soon as the 125cc roadster appeared the factory began developing a racing version, although at first the latter was not that different from the standard model. Its shortcomings soon became apparent, leading to a hasty redesign, the most obvious evidence of which was a new cylinder head with greatly enlarged finning. In this form the MV 125 racer achieved its first major success, winning at the Grand Prix des Nations at Faenza in 1948. For 1949 there was an entirely new version, featuring a more streamlined engine, a four-speed gearbox (replacing the earlier three-speed) and a new frame with swinging-arm rear suspension. An ideal machine for privateers, the racing 125cc two-strokes were a major success, winning the arduous Milan-Taranto road race in 1950, '51 and '52, but at World Championship level the MVs were outclassed by the four-stroke F.B. Mondial with its twin-overhead-cam engine. Count Agusta's response was to hire Gilera's chief designer Piero Remor together with its chief mechanic, Arturo Magni, and build a four-stroke racer of his own, and in 1950 the works team ceased to use the two-stroke.

An older restoration, believe completed some ten years ago, this beautiful little MV featured the period-correct 21" wheels and is described by the vendor as in generally excellent condition. There are no documents with this Lot.