Beschreibung
1966 DUCATI 250 MACH 1
Estimates AUD$13, 000 - $17, 000
Offered by Donington Auctions - Collector Motorcycle & Car Auction - Featuring the Private Museum of Racing Driver Bryan Thomson - Sydney NSW June 20th 2pm AEST.
The first factory café racer and one of the most outstanding production Ducati’s of the 1960s.
One of only 26 imported into Australia in 1966
Featured in the book ‘Ducati Overhead Camshaft Singles’ by Ian Falloon
Frame No.: DM250 95031
Engine No.: DM250M1 01947
Released at end of 1964 Ducati, the 250 Mach 1 provided unprecedented performance for a production 250 single and stood out like a beacon in the sea of mediocre machinery that typified Ducatis of this period.
The 74x57. 8mm single cylinder engine was descended from the racing F3s and included a single overhead camshaft driven by a vertical shaft and bevel gears. Along with a 10:1 compression ratio the engine featured larger (40 mm and 36 mm) valves and a hotter camshaft. As with all the overhead camshaft singles, the valve springs were the hairpin type, and with an unfiltered Dell’Orto SSI 29D carburettor and street muffler, the claimed power was 27. 6 horsepower at 8, 500 rpm. Ignition was by battery and coil ignition and a rear-set rocking gearchange pedal operated the five-speed gearbox. With clip-on handlebars and rear-set foot controls the Mach 1 was the first factory café racer. With quality Marzocchi suspension front and rear, a modest 116 kg dry weight, and a short 1, 350 mm wheelbase, the Mach 1 could more than hold its own in the handling department. The brakes were generously proportioned drums, a 180x35 mm on the front and 160x30 mm on the rear, and the wheels 18-inch with steel rims. While these components were shared with other 250 cc Ducati singles, the Mach 1 was the only one with a red frame and a 240 km/ h Veglia speedometer. And reality matched the looks. Ducati claimed the Mach 1 was the fastest 250 available and could hit nearly 165 km/ h. At the time of its release this may have been true but by 1966 the Japanese two-stroke 250s were knocking on the door. By 1966 Ducati was already looking towards their new wide-case singles, some with desmodromic valve gear, and the time was up for the more delicate narrow-case singles. With only 838 manufactured the Mach 1 is rare and desirable and more than fifty-five years on it has garnered the cult status. The 250 Mach1 was Ducati’s most outstanding production bike of the 1960s and epitomises the best of the overhead camshaft Ducati sporting single.
One of the final 1966 Mach1s, the engine and frame numbers of this example correlate to the numbers of some final Australian delivered examples as described on Page 131 of The Book of Ducati Overhead Camshaft Singles by Ian Falloon. This example is undoubtedly one of only 26 Mach 1s imported into Australia in 1966. It is an older restoration, painted in non-standard colours and enhanced with some non-standard parts to improve function and useability. This includes the alloy wheel rims, new tyres and an aftermarket correct period-style exhaust system. The engine was rebuilt by a noted NSW specialist and is fitted with a non-standard Wassell-Amal 30mm carburettor and aftermarket kick-start lever for ease of starting. All the levers and perches are original and while the rare swan-neck handlebars are period correct they were not original equipment for a Mach 1. The odometer is reading 15, 014 miles.
This motorcycle is sold unregistered.
