Description
PATON Moto Grand prix 500 cc Bicylindre vertical 4 temps 1968 N° moteur 702 Carte grise française de collection The bike has been restored by Jacques BOLLON, former chief mechanic of St Jean Moto in Saint Jean d'Angély, then moto 17. The Paton has only done a few demonstrations since, and will need to be restarted. It is in excellent condition with no replica parts.
It is in excellent condition, completely original with no replica parts, and a set of vintage parts will be supplied with it. Link to the auction on 3 February 2024 at 5pm available on our Mirabaud&Mercier website and on the Drouot online auction site. Following the withdrawal of the Mondial brand from competition at the end of 1957, chief mechanic Guiseppe PATTONI and engineer TONTTI joined forces to market a twin-shaft engine conversion under the PATON name for Mondial cars, which until then had been fitted with single shafts.
They split up in 1959 but reunited in 1964 to build a 250 inspired by the Bianchi and Mondial models, with which Alberto Pagani finished 3rd in the TT. From this, a 350 version was extrapolated. Thanks to the financial support of Bill HANNAS, a 500 appeared in 1966.
In 1967, Paton finished 3rd in the World Championship, manufacturer behind M V. Agusta and Honda. In 1969, Billy NELSON finished 4th in the World Championship, while Roberto GALLINA took a podium in 1970.
The Japanese invasion gradually eliminated Paton. Fewer than 10 Patons were built in all, one of which was delivered to the French APPIETTO in 1968. Paton remained the last representative of the craft, in a 500 category that had become extremely expensive with a 4-cylinder engine of its own design, until the 1990s.
Speed: around 250 km/ h. It was the great rival of the Linto in the GP500 at the end of the 60s.
