Descripción
This is Lot 254 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale on the 26 & 27 April, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available 26 April from 09:00 until 17:00 and 27 April from 09:00 until 17:00, at The International Classic Motorcycle Show, Stafford.
Lot 254
Ex-Scuderia Spaggiari
c. 1974 Ducati 750cc Racing Motorcycle
Registration no. not registered
Chassis no.
Authenticated by Bruno Spaggiari
Restored by former factory race mechanic Giorgio Grimandi in 2003
Present ownership since 2013
Drained of all fluids and on static display since 2013
Offered from a private collection of Italian exotica
This motorcycle was purchased by our private vendor in 2013 from marque specialists Made in Italy Motorcycles, whom advised our private vendor that this is one of the four Scuderia Spaggiari Ducati's that were raced by Franco Uncini and Giulio Sabattini in the Italian junior championships and other local races.
Bruno Spaggiari is a rider many enthusiasts will remember as Paul Smart's team-mate at the Imola 200 in 1972 where the Englishman scored an historic victory aboard Ducati's new 750cc v-twin. Spaggiari had won his first ever race as a professional rider in 1954 riding a Gitane, which led to him being recruited by Ducati to race their Marianna. It would be the start of a long and successful partnership. He last raced at the Imola 200 in 1974.
This ex-Scuderia Spaggiari Ducati '750' was restored by former factory race mechanic Giorgio Grimandi in 2003 and is offered with original certification supplied by both Giorgio Grimandi and Bruno Spaggiari. The frame number is '075452', which is that of a 1975 '750'. The engine does not have a hand-stamped number, but the crankcases are a matched pair. It is presumed the machine had new cases fitted at some point in its competitive life, as many such racers did.
When Bruno Spaggiari's racing career was coming to an end, he formed a team to compete in the Italian Championship's production category. As team manager he helped launch a talented youngster and future 500c World Champion, Franco Uncini, who was the team's most successful rider on the yellow Ducati '750', winning 15 races out of 21 in the junior championship to take the title. From 1976 onwards, management passed to the factory-backed NCR team.
On file is an Italian declaration from rider and Scuderia Spaggiari boss Bruno Spaggiari which translates:
'Mr Bruno Spaggiari born in Reggio Emilia on 11 January 1933, resident in Rubianino di Quattro Castella, province of Reggio Emilia.
Having seen the documentation and observed the motorcycle declares that the Ducati brand motorcycle, with frame number 075452, model 750 SS was one of the four motorcycles that I purchased from Ducati in 1974 or 1975 to participate in the 1975 Italian Junior Championship and Italian National Trophies with riders Franco Uncini and Giulio Sabattini.'
December 14, 2003
Mr Bruno Spaggiari
A declaration on file from Giorgio Grimandi translates:
'The undersigned Giorgio Grimandi former employee of the Ducati company, in Bologna (Italy) racing department experiences declares that the brand motorcycle Ducati with frame No. 075452, model 750 SS has been restored about 10 years ago in terms of engine components by the undersigned.'
Bologna. December 14, 2013
In faith
Mr Giorgio Grimandi
Also on file is a magazine article about Franco Uncini; a slip-cased hardback book (written in Italian) titled Scuderia Spaggiari, which is illustrated with numerous photographs of '075452.' The book includes a compare-and-contrast study with another Scuderia Spaggiari 750, housed in the Ducati Museum, just two frame numbers apart from this machine, and a copy of the Italian/ English hardback book 'Museo Ducati', which includes a section on the Spaggiari Ducati 750s.
In 2013, Made in Italy decommissioned the Ducati and drained it of all fluids. Since then it has remained on static display as part of the owner's remarkable collection of Italian exotica. Regrettably, the owner has not found the time to enjoy the motorcycle as he would have liked. Consequently, he has decided to pass the Ducati on to a new custodian who will use it as its maker intended: on the racetrack.
Very little is known about the later history of this particular machine; however, it is exceedingly rare for in-period 750 Ducati's to appear on the market, especially those with direct ties to one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time. A wonderful opportunity for the discerning Ducati connoisseur.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams website for all pertinent auction information.
