Benelli
In 1920 the first engine was produced, a 75cc, single-cylinder two-stroke fixed to the frame of a bicycle. In 1921 the first motorcycle was built, with the engine which in the meantime had grown to 98 cc.
Two years later, using a version specially modified for competition, “terrible” Tonino got on the track and demonstrated outstanding natural talent, and thus started career full of satisfaction and successes, thus certifying with facts the firm's exceptional constructional capacity.
Tonino Benelli, riding a 175 twin-shaft, won 4 Italian titles almost consecutively (in 1927, 1928 e 1930 and 1931) until a serious race accident in 1932 suddenly interrupted a sporting career that seemed almost inexorable.
THE SUCCESSES
The factory was destroyed in World War II, but the brothers retained all their enthusiasm and passion: the Firm came back to life and Benelli bikes went on to even further wins.
In 1939 Ted Mellors won the awesome Tourist Trophy.
In the sixties absolute protagonists were the unforgettable Tarquinio Provini and Renzo Pasolini, while in 1969 the enormous effort directed at competition resulted in Kel Carruthers' victory in the 250 cc World Championship, which matched that achieved in 1950 by Dario Ambrosini at the end of a memorable season, when he won also the Tourist Trophy.
In 1962, Benelli and Motobi (the latter founded by Giuseppe Benelli as a result of disagreements with his brothers, but newly joining the parent company with the ending of family problems) were producing over 300 motorcycles a day, with 550 employees.
THE PROBLEMS
A few years later, the Japanese entry on the market opened the crisis for European makers, and in 1971 Benelli was taken over by Argentian entrepreneur Alejandro De Tomaso, who also bought Moto Guzzi the following year.
Great activity in design led to the presentation of many new models, some of which were very interesting from a technical standpoint (the unforgettable 750, subsequently becoming the 900, with 6 cylinders in a row), but which, however, couldn't compete on the market from a quality standpoint.
Market space reduced drastically and Benelli's glorious story stopped, in a wake of disappointment and regret for lost chances.
THE RELAUNCH
But the Benelli name is still alive in the hearts of enthusiasts, and in 1989 the hopes for rebirth were rekindled by Pesaro industrialist Giancarlo Selci.
Times, however, were not yet ripe and a few more years were needed until 1995 when Andrea Merloni officially took over a Firm full of glory and with an irresistible trademark.
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