Motorcycle history
1957 Aermacchi Chimera 175
Aermacchi (Società Commerciale Aeronautica) . founded in Varese. was mainly known for aircraft and motorcycle manufacturing. After the end of World War II, the company changed its name to Società Commerciale Aeronautica to once again turned to the motorcycle.In 1946 they also presented a small car under the brand name of Macchitre MB 1. It was decided to start peacetime production with a three-wheeler truck. This was an unorthodox and initially strange little vehicle but a very good design.
Then, in anticipating of the motorcycle boom and intending to have a stake in it, the Aermacchi managemnet team looked for a good designer who could produce an attractive lightweight. Their choice was Lino Tonti. who had been at Benelli and had worked on aircraft engines during the war. Tonti designed a 50 cc motorcycle that broke the land speed record for that displacement class.
The bikes produced by Aermacchi were quite successful in the postwar Italian market, mainly thanks to their repeated good finishes on the race tracks. The firm designed and produced models incorporating the Italian word Ala (wing) in its names, such as Ala Verde, Ala Blu and Ala d’Oro (respectively green wing, blue wing and golden wing). In the beginning, these vehicles were equipped with 2-cylinder engines had been designed to be used mostly for the local area and are therefore were quite lightweight and quick.
LinTo Aermacchi
The LinTo -Aermacchi 75 which established the speed record on the Autostrada dei Laghi or Street on the Lakes
In 1947. exploiting the potential from the workshop for processing of waste, in addition to his creative abilities, Tonti decided to build a prototype racing bikes to be used in various races on road circuits of Romagna Riviera and Temporada Romagna. a then quite widespread popularity. Thus was born the Linto 75 (an acronym for ‘Lin’ o To nti), with a four-stroke single cylinder DOHC distribution engine initial displacement of 75 cc, later increased to 125 cc, in order to run even in the higher category.
In 1948 began to design a futuristic model of a scooter with big wheels, which was presented to Rimini in 1950 with the name the Aermacchi 125 N Swan or Linto 125 Swan, with the intention to propose to the various motorcycle for the construction in the series. In search of good ideas for the redevelopment of its factories to civilian production had given the huge commercial success for scooters with wheels as tall as the Moto Guzzi Galletto. Aermacchi decided to buy the Swan project and upon the advice of Tonti, start their motorcycle section.
Same route was adopted in 1952. from technical Romagna for the next scooter Linto Dama 160 carried out on a Aermacchi motor and technical solutions with the highest level. Inexplicably, after the second prototype developed in 1954. management decided not to put it into production and, probably, this was the reason that prompted him to consider other offers.
Before departing from Aermacchi, however, he completed a project for the construction of torpedo record, driven by an evolution of that DOHC by 75 cm 3 . which, ridden by Massimo Pasolini. received the world speed record at the flying kilometer. reaching 167.208 km/h on the Autostrada dei Laghi (Street on the Lakes).
Aermacchi bikes re-badged as Harley-Davidsons
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