A $12,450 Lodola?

[Moto]

Any one able to identify this $12,450 buy-it-now offering on ebay?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-175-Corsa-/122115190785?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c6ea1f001:g:S-kAAOSwFV9Xy2aN&item=122115190785



It looks like a Lodola in GP disguise. There are no claims at all about it on the ebay page, other than it that it was owned by a deceased racer and has had its fluids changed! (It is being sold as part of a batch that has some genuine collectables.)

Moto

P.S. It was at a (the?) Monterey auction in 2011. Here are some more photos showing the motor clearly:

 https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0811-112885/1956-moto-guzzi-175-corsa/

Comparing the motor to Colombo's book, it seems to be a 1956 Lodola 175. But was there ever such a factory racer? Or a contemporary privateer? Colombo doesn't mention one. I see now the Monterey listing claims it was raced in 1956 and 1957, so I guess it may be true. Anyone know the story?

M.

[fotoguzzi]

that fairing is SUPER COOL!

[Daniel Kalal]

...I think it's a fraud...

I'm pretty sure it's a very nice build-up exercise of vintage and vintage-like parts by one of our talented Guzzi enthusiast (who, I believe, used to be on this board).  Anyway, it's only a fraud if somebody claims it is what it's not (the seller is not the builder).

[LowRyter]

Any idea where this showroom is in Dallas?  It might make a nice ride.

[Moto]

Any idea where this showroom is in Dallas?  It might make a nice ride.

Seems to be:

Reagor Dykes Direct Auto of Dallas
16280 Midway Rd
Addison, TX 75001

Might be good to call ahead, though.

[Moto]

I'm now discounting the claim in the Monterey auction listing that it was raced in 1956-57, since the author also called the engine a "thing of beauty," which seems bizarre in the context of other Guzzi engines.

I did find a somewhat-close looking experimental bike in the Guzzi museum:



But the gas tanks differ quite a lot in style -- the museum one is rounded at the bottom, and  seemingly made of metal, while the ebay looks like a modern fiberglass item.

Also, the ebay bike's frame looks as much like a Lodola as the experimental.

Finally, all of the historical Guzzi dustbin fairings that I can find had clear windscreens, while the ebay one does not. The historical racers also look pretty beat up, as a rule, unlike the ebay bike.

It's a Lodola in drag.

Moto

[Daniel Kalal]

It's a Lodola in drag.

I'll paste this (below) from the FB-mgnoc page (ethically a bit grey; but...).  You might remember the name from the really beautiful land speed Guzzi (Team Subtle Crowbar Mandello Meteor) of several years back.  I'm going to guess that Bill has more money in this thing than he ever got out of it (or expected to get).

[Bill Ross] I built this bike around 1996 from a tired Lodola 175 sport that had been raced in the US in the early 60`s. It was missing all the bodywork , Airtech Fairing and seat, modified Suzuki X6 Race tank , had a lot of fun building it.

[Moto]

I'll paste this (below) from the FB-mgnoc page (ethically a bit grey; but...).  You might remember the name from the really beautiful land speed Guzzi (Team Subtle Crowbar Mandello Meteor) of several years back.  I'm going to guess that Bill has more money in this thing than he ever got out of it (or expected to get).

[Bill Ross] I built this bike around 1996 from a tired Lodola 175 sport that had been raced in the US in the early 60`s. It was missing all the bodywork , Airtech Fairing and seat, modified Suzuki X6 Race tank , had a lot of fun building it.

Thanks, Daniel!

Looked at in its proper context -- that is, not as a fraud -- it's really quite nice. (But maybe not $12,450 nice.)

Moto