Description
This motorcycle is Lot 56 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale (The International Classic MotorCycle Show) on April 25th & 26th, please see the Bonhams Motorcycles Website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 1 - 94 are to be sold from 14:30 on Saturday 25th April 2026.
Lots 201 - 353 are to be sold from 11:30am on Sunday 26th April 2026.
Public Viewing:
Available 25th & 26th April 2026 from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Staffordshire County Showground (The International Classic MotorCycle Show).
The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II
** 1977 MV Agusta '900S' America**
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. MV750* 2210226*
Engine no. * 221-0617*
** The Lot is from outside the UK. Shippio Ltd must automatically uplift this Lot after the auction, complete all post sale import or export customs administration, and store this Lot until it is customs cleared. A compulsory fee of £350 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this. This Lot cannot be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any alternative transporter.
If the Lot is to stay in the UK or is not exported within 90 days of sale, Import VAT at 5% on the hammer price is payable.**
Developed from its long line of highly successful multi-cylinder racers, MV Agusta's first road-going four - the 4C, a twin-carburettor, 600cc, shaft-driven tourer - appeared in 1965. But the public demanded something more exciting from many-times World Champions MV, and the Gallarate manufacturer duly obliged in 1968, upping capacity to 743cc and further boosting maximum power (to 65bhp) by fitting a quartet of Dell'Orto carburettors to the revised 750S, a high-speed symphony in red, white and blue. Perhaps surprisingly for a sports model, the 750S retained the 4C's shaft final drive while the frame too was virtually identical to that of its predecessor.
Although no lightweight - it weighed nearly as much as a Kawasaki Z1 - the 750S gave little away in outright performance terms to such larger machinery, thanks, no doubt, to its engine's Grand Prix heritage. Testing a 750S in 1975, Bike magazine found the motor very powerful. "Surprisingly it also has great reserves of torque and pulls happily from four thousand. It's probably the most powerful 750cc motor made; in a straight drag with a Z1 it lost only a few yards up to 100mph."
Hand made in limited numbers and priced accordingly, the 750S was way beyond the financial reach of the average enthusiast. Marque specialist Mick Walker got to try a mint, low mileage example in 1983, recording the event in his book MV Agusta Fours: "The experience was unique; the rider was transported to a different level, and made to feel really special. There was certainly a pronounced 'feel-good factor'."
In 1976 the 750S was replaced by the 750S America. Bored out to 789cc, the America produced a claimed 75bhp, an output sufficient to propel the Italian sportster to 100mph in around 13 seconds and on to a top speed of 135mph. Production of the 750S America ceased in February 1979. Bike rated the 750S as, "one of the most dramatic-looking bikes made, the real stuff of legend". Few would disagree.
According to a (copy) 1994 letter on file from its immediately preceding owner, this MV was manufactured in 1977 and is a rare 900cc version with bore/ stroke dimensions of 70x58mm (actual capacity 893cc). At that time the MV was said to have covered fewer than 10, 000 kilometres; the current odometer reading is 9, 873km so it would appear to have been unused since acquisition.
Offered unregistered and without registration documents. Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/ or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding. The engine turns over but it should be noted that the throttle is stuck.
Offered with key
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 Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
