Find Lots

• Auction House:
  Donington Auctions
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Motorcycles, Cars & Horse Drawn Carriages - Featuring the Private Museum of Racing Driver Bryan Thomson
• Sale Date:
  20 Jun 2021 ~ 2pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  19
• Lot Description:
  1956 MASERATI T2 125 LUSSO
  Extremely Rare Maserati Two-Stroke Motorcycle
• Notes:
  Famous for the Trident symbol, Modena-based Maserati was a successful car manufacturer in the 1920s and 1930s, but in 1937 the Maserati brothers sold the company to Modena industrialist Adolfo Orsi. After a series of strikes in his steel foundries, in 1952 Adolfo split the business and his sister Ida Orsi was charged with motorcycle development. To speed up development Maserati acquired the Bologna motorcycle company Italmotor in 1953. Italmotor built two models; a 160cc four-stroke and 125cc two-stroke, and the 160 would form the basis of subsequent Maserati 175 and 250cc singles. By 1958 50 and 75cc two-stroke singles had also joined the Maserati line-up, but this coincided with the Italian motorcycle market collapsing. In 1960 Maserati pulled out of motorcycles to concentrate on more profitable cars. Apart from the Maserati and Trident logos, the Maserati T2 was identical to the Italmoto Tipo 125 T2. Both were powered by a two-stroke engine derived from the proven German DKW. The three-speed single cylinder piston-port engine had a bore and stroke of 52x58mm and displaced 123cc. The maximum power was a modest 4.8 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. The first version retained the Italmoto pressed-steel girder fork but by 1955 the Maserati T2 was fitted with a more modern telescopic front fork. Full width hubs characterized both models and the claimed top speed was 75/80 km/h. At this time the Italian motorcycle industry was particularly buoyant. MV Agusta, Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Mondial were dominating Grand Prix racing, with Ducati, Laverda, Morini, Benelli, Rumi and Bianchi ruling the important Italian Gran Fondo street races. After being outclassed in the 1954 and 1955 Motogiro dItalia for smaller capacity machines, Maserati produced a sporting T2 125 GTS for the 1956 event. Now with 7 horsepower and a four-speed transmission, the new 125 T2 GTS managed third (Falzoni) and fourth (Guido Borri) in the Production 125cc class. For 1957 the GTS went into regular production, this sporting model proving popular over the next few years. The beautiful 1956 125 T2 Lusso offered here was found in Italy in the 1980s and imported to Melbourne. It sat for many years before Maserati enthusiast David Zeunert purchased it. The current ownerpurchased this motorcycle in 2017 and embarked on a ground-up restoration. Most of the restoration was undertaken by Italian bike specialists Road & Race on the NSW Central Coast, with the paint and bodywork by Simon Bonello of Ground Level Panel & Paint, Catherine Fields, NSW. This Maserati T2 has been displayed at the Motorclassica, Melbourne, and was voted best classic motorcycle at the 2019 Auto Italia in Canberra. The overall presentation is exceptional, with correct Trident logo on period components, and carburettor and exhaust. This represents an outstanding opportunity for an astute collector to acquire this stunningly presented example of a rare Maserati motorcycle. This motorcycle is sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$16,000 - 20,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

  Can't see the realised price? Upgrade your subscription now!

• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.