Beschreibung:

The Ducati Gran Sport, particularly in the 100 and 125cc versions, was incredibly successful between 1955 and 1958 and even after it was replaced by the Ducati F3, many riders in Italy continued to campaign the Gran Sport. The success of the Gran Sport in competition was such that Fabio Taglioni was allowed to adapt his advanced single cylinder overhead- camshaft engine for production. Most motorcycles of the period still featured overhead valves operated by pushrods and while there was little to separate the ohv 98s and 125s from dozens of other Italian motorcycles available at the time, the overhead-camshaft 175 provided exceptional performance. The 175 Sport was first displayed at the end of 1956 and was followed shortly afterwards by the 175T with a slightly detuned engine. Although the aluminium overhead-camshaft engine was based on the Gran Sport, the crankcases were now die cast and the cylinder head was in one piece. The chassis too was based on the Gran Sport with a single down tube frame that utilized the engine as a stressed member. Setting the 175 Sport apart from other motorcycles in 1957 was the sculptured fuel tank. Designed to follow function it featured arm recesses to allow a crouched rider to hug the motorcycle while gripping the clip-on handle bars. There were even eyelets in the tank to secure a chin pad for racers who really wanted to get their head down. There were detail changes to the 175 Sport and 175T over the next few years, in 1958 the 175 Sport received a dual silencer and also a revised carburettor and from 1959 there was a tuning kit available with a larger carburettor and a racing cam shaft. These kits were fitted by the supplying dealers and the motorcycles became the 175 Super Sport. This beautiful Ducati 175 Super Sport was imported to the United Kingdom from Italy in 1997 for the vendor to prepare and participate in the Motogiro D'Italia Road Rally around Italy, which he completed. It has been subject to a recent, two year, ground-up restoration and has not been used since. Finished in the factory colours of bronze and red, this Ducati is being sold with a V5C registration document, a new MoT test certificate and a history file containing a number of old MoT test certificates. Here is a rare opportunity to own an iconic Italian motorcycle.