Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: mannocon on November 05, 2024, 05:40:01 AM
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Hey everyone,
I recently inherited a very unique Moto Guzzi from my father, and I'm hoping someone here might have seen it or know anything about its history. It’s a customized, stretched Moto Guzzi Ambassador V750 with what appears to be a British sports car engine. I remember my father showing me an old magazine article that featured a detailed writeup on this exact build, but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find it.
Here are some photos of the bike. As you can see, it’s quite the head-turner with a longer frame and what looks like a classic British sports car motor powering it. I’d love to learn more about its story—who built it, any known issues, or maybe some specifics on that engine swap.
If this bike rings any bells or if anyone has seen that magazine article before, please let me know. Any leads or insights would be much appreciated!
Thanks for your time,
Jim
(https://i.ibb.co/njTSRhM/20240210-115922.jpg) (https://ibb.co/njTSRhM)
(https://i.ibb.co/VSNd4PG/20240210-120935.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VSNd4PG)
(https://i.ibb.co/qDJ0Twq/20240210-165125.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qDJ0Twq)
(https://i.ibb.co/yFhXf4D/20240210-164959.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yFhXf4D)
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Wow!!!😯
-AJ
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I like that combo! My friend put a 4 cylinder Crossly engine in an Ambassador. His dad used to race those engines in small sprint cars. Curt rode his to the Iowa and Wi rally’s a few times so some of you may remember that. He put an 850 T engine in one of his dad’s old cars but it worked so well that at antique exhibition races the other guys complained it was too fast even taking it easy. That one of yours is real similar but yours has those cool intakes . https://youtu.be/WrkK-kEBniU?si=7qc2eHajdM0HkuXS
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is that engine held together with Whitworth fasteners ??
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Your poor dawg looks plum wore out!
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Hey everyone,
I recently inherited a very unique Moto Guzzi from my father, and I'm hoping someone here might have seen it or know anything about its history...
Thanks for your time,
Jim
Hey Jim, Welcome to the playground.
That Guzzi and engine combination is quite an engineering feat. Just wow...! Do you know what the engine is from...? Were there no notes or records of the modification being done...?
I take that your Father was not the one that did the work.
I would love to hear more on the history when you do find it.... Any clues...? Where you and your Dad live...?
Have you ventured out on it...? Looks like a blast to throttle up...!
Just as a side note: Von Dutch had done some engine swap stuff year ago, VW engines, large framed cycle frames and Guzzi forks. I did not know of him using four cylinder British engines though.
Please keep us posted on info.
Best,
Rob
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Hey Rob,
Thanks for the warm welcome!
The Guzzi setup has definitely been a bit of a mystery, and it’s an impressive piece of work, for sure. The engine itself seems to be a four-cylinder British model, though I haven’t nailed down the exact origin yet. Unfortunately, there weren’t any notes or documentation left behind about the modifications. I believe my dad bought the bike in the early '70s, though I’m not entirely certain. I do recall him showing me a detailed writeup on it—maybe in Cycle World or something similar. My mom is actually looking around to see if she can find it, so hopefully, that’ll shed some light on things.
My dad lived in Ridgway, PA, his whole life and sadly passed away in 2022. I think he rode it a few times early on, and as you might imagine, it had a tendency to break the rear tire loose. It hasn’t run for decades—probably close to 50 years—so if I manage to get it up and running, I may “carefully” take it out for a few rides. I’ll definitely keep you posted with any new info I find.
Von Dutch’s swaps are legendary! I knew he experimented with unique builds on Guzzi frames, but I hadn’t come across any four-cylinder British engine work by him either. Interesting stuff!
Thanks again, and I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated.
Best,
Jim
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Could it be a Coventry Climax or a Hillman Imp engine? Is there any ID cast on top of the cam cover?
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Tony,
You might be onto something! When I compare the side of the engine with a picture of a Hillman Imp 998 race engine I found online, the block looks very similar, if not identical!
Thanks so much—this really helps narrow down my search.
Much appreciated,
Jim
(https://i.ibb.co/x5HQD8x/Hillman-Imp-Comparison.jpg) (https://ibb.co/x5HQD8x)
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That's a VERY cool special. :cool:
I love specials with a combination of one maker's frame
and another company's engine. Many of them are beautifully
done. One of my all-time favorites was in the November 2012
issue of Classic Bike: A side-valve Kiwi Indian motor in a Featherbed
frame.
Yours must be a hoot to ride - all of that SMOOOTH torque.
OTOH - braking might not be all that and a bag o' chips with
all of that weight; but probably no worse than a lot of vehicles
of that vintage.
Like others have said, I'd love to find out more about it.
-Stretch