100 years of Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi's 100th anniversary celebrations will culminate at its Mandello del Lario headquarters with a special three-day GMG festival of all things Moto Guzzi - Giornate Mondiali Moto Guzzi - from September 9 through 12.
To mark the year, Moto Guzzi will produce a limited series of their models in a special Centennial Livery - available on V7, V9 and V85 TT in 2021 only - "an exclusive, elegant and attractive colour scheme, evocative of a unique heritage, drawing its origins from the aesthetics of the legendary bikes which made motorcycling history, first and foremost the Otto Cilindri of 1955. A mad and visionary idea, an extraordinary bike created to compete in the World Championship 500 class, a project so bold that it was ten years ahead of all global motorcycle production.
"This milestone in motorbike history has an extremely elegant colour scheme in its purely racing essence, combining the satin-finished metal of the fuel tank with the green of the fairing and the leather on the seat. Colours that also characterised the 350 Bialbero, one of the most victorious bikes in history, the unbeatable dominator of the 350 class in World Championship GP motorcycle racing, with the amazing record of nine consecutive world titles (five Rider and four Manufacturer) from 1953 to 1957.
"Green was also the first colour 'worn' by a Moto Guzzi with the Normale, the first model, and probably the most iconic of the eagle's colours. The Style Centre reinterpreted it in a modern approach with a matt finish and associated with metallic colours, it expressed the solidity and authenticity of the Larian brand".
It was 15 March 1921 when the "Società Anonima Moto Guzzi" was established with the goal of "manufacturing and sales of motorcycles and any other activity pertinent or connected to the metal mechanical industry". In memory of one of the founders' brothers in arms, the eagle with spread wings was chosen as the new company's symbol and the eagle has been Moto Guzzi's symbol ever since then.
The operational headquarters in Mandello del Lario is the same plant where Moto Guzzis are still produced to this day - a factory that has seen manufacturing of many famous bikes such as the GT 500 Norge (1928) (ridden to the Arctic Circle by Giuseppe Guzzi, brother of founder Carlo), the Airone 250 (1939) and the Galletto (1950), which contributed to mass motorisation in the post war period.
"In those years, the wind tunnel was opened - the first in the world in the motorcycling segment, which can still be visited in the Mandello plant. It was greatly coveted by a close-knit team that included extraordinary engineers such as Umberto Todero, Enrico Cantoni and a designer who would soon become a legend, Milan native Giulio Cesare Carcano - father of the incredible 285 km/hour Otto Cilindri (in 1955) and the prototypes which, between 1935 and 1957, won no fewer than 15 world speed titles and 11 Tourist Trophies.
"In the '60s, after the Stornello and Dingo light motorcycles, Moto Guzzi breathed life into the 700 cc 90° V-twin with cardan shaft final drive, destined to become the very symbol of the manufacturer from Mandello through legendary models like the V7 Special, V7 Sport, California and Le Mans. This engine has been consistently evolved on this architecture, all the way to driving the most popular modern Moto Guzzis such as the V7 and V9 range in the Roamer and Bobber versions and the V85 TT Traveller, the first ever 'classic enduro' in the world."
