Moto Guzzi Forever – History and Models

Moto Guzzi Forever – History and Models

Perhaps only the most diehard fans, among the many Moto Guzzi enthusiasts, are aware of the technical affinity between the single-cylinder engine of the racing ‘250’ from the Mandello company and the V12 unit of the first Ferraris. It’s a surprising connection that is explained by the fact that the technician Gioachino Colombo was a keen admirer of the engine that Carlo Guzzi had designed for the racing bike, at the top in GPs with the names of ‘Albatros’ and ‘Gambalunghino’. In the years following the end of the war, Colombo designed the engine of the first Ferrari by considering the concepts of Mandello: overhead camshaft distribution, with rocker arms and needle valve springs, bore and stroke measurements, the same between their values ​​or with minimal differences. Thus, the first V12 from Maranello to arrive at the fateful 3000 cc limit was a Guzzi multiplied by 12: the same bore and stroke (68×68 mm) and obviously identical unit displacement: 246.8 cc.

It is one of the many curious anecdotes contained in this book that accompanies the story of the events that have characterized the chronology of the brand (five important corporate changes, from the initial union between Carlo Guzzi and the Parodi family from Genoa, up to its entry into the Colaninno Group), to the description of all the models produced by the legendary of Mandello del Lario workshops, for road and racing.

A typically Italian phenomenon, deeply linked to the personality of the product, Moto Guzzi has never created banal bikes: on the contrary, it has continuously improved technique and style, without betraying its originality.

Faithful to the 90° V-twin engine, conceived for ‘fast touring’, Moto Guzzi has managed to demonstrate that even with that typical ‘road-going’ technical configuration, the company could also tackle racing. This is confirmed by the detailed account of the era of production-based motorcycle racing series of the 1970s and of the even more sensational victories in the ‘Battle of the Twins’ at Daytona, in the first decade of this century.

Great Small Fiats

Great Small Fiats

Great Small Fiats is a tribute to some of the best small Fiats ever produced.

In deciding which models to include in this book, Phil Ward concentrated on three criteria – greatness, size and emotion. Where size is an easy parameter to qualify, greatness is more complicated because it is a combination of of both the manufacturer’s and the public’s opinion. A car that is highly regarded by the public may not have been a commercial success and vice versa. A truly great car is one that works well for both parties. Emotion may be considered to be an element of greatness in that the public’s ‘love’ for a car is a fantastic benefit for a manufacturer and must be treasured. Fiat have made the mistake of ‘improving’ an icon on several occasions only to find that public opinion went against them. Fortunately Fiat has been magnanimous enough to respond by giving the car-buying public more of what it wants. As long as they continue to do so then Fiat’s reputation as the world’s greatest small car manufacturer is set to continue.

The author chose the Topolino as the starting point, as it fulfils all the criteria, and was the first Fiat built in the late 1930s to satisfy the Italian public’s new-found desire for mobilisation. The old conventions of car production were turned upside down with the arrival of the 600 which revolutionised car production techniques and maximised on passenger space and performance at minimal cost. These principles continued via a succession of models which include the 500, 850, 126, 127 through to more recent models like the Cinquecento and Seicento.

Running in parallel with these “cheeky” Fiats, this book covers a range of slightly larger cars that were built in huge numbers. Though rather staid in appearance, the 1950s Millecento was family transport for millions of Italians covering three decades, four when the Indian-built cars are included. Similarly the 128, Panda and Uno were ‘the’ Italian small cars of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Nuova Panda carries the banner through to recent models.