1966 Ducati Mach 1, 250 cc. Registration number ABW 959D. Fr...

Hammer

£9,000

1966 Ducati Mach 1, 250 cc. Registration number ABW 959D. Frame number not stamped. Engine number DM250M1 01635.
Although the Ducati manufacturing organisation could trace its history back to the 1920s it did not start manufacturing motorcycles until the late 1940s and early success led to the appointment of Fabio Taglioni as chief designer in 1954. His first design was a 98cc sporting overhead-camshaft machine, to become known as the Marianna, proved a great success and was to become a competitive entrant for long distance road events so favoured by the Italians. Taglioni built on his success with the introduction of larger displacement machines featuring the now established OHC design which was eminently suited to tuning and serious competition and in 1959 a 125 Taglioni design took a young Mike Hailwood to his first Grand Prix victory. The first 250cc engined bike entered production in 1961 and was an immediate success, to become known in the UK as the 250 Daytona, it was the first of the 'narrow-crankcase' derivatives which would dominate production until the late 1960s, and in 1964 one such derivative appeared in the from of the 'Mach 1.' The Mach 1 featured a tuned motor sporting high lift cams, big valves with stronger springs and modified adjusters, a high compression piston and a 29 mm Del Orto carburettor producing a claimed 28bhp at 8500rpm, against the Daytona's not inconsequential 17bhp. Coupled to a 5 speed gearbox the Mach 1 offered blistering performance for a 250 machine and it was tested at 105mph making it the fastest production 250 of its day.
ABW was initially sold in the USA as part of Joe Berliner's stock and in later years was with Richard Moran of Cedar Rapids. After his passing it found its way over to the UK with Richard Wujkiw and Peter Hindley who restored it with receipts on file for and engine gearbox rebuild.
Our vendor spent many years searching for a good example of a Mach 1 and found this machine in February 2019. Ill health now means he wishes to pass it on to a new home.
Sold with the V5C, period Ducati manual, various receipts and magazine articles. Please note there is no oil in the machine so recommissioning will be required for road use.
https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1965-ducati-250-mach-i/