'MOTO BELLISSIMA' AT SFO

The San Francisco Arts Commission is mandated by political brokering to include art and exhibitions in public spaces in SF; a small percentage of all large real estate deals is earmarked thus, and SF Int'l Airport, being one of the largest pieces of real estate in town, has a huge collection of art on the walls of its terminals, with the best at the International Terminal.  Each gate has a huge painting (Squeak Carnwath, Enrique Chagoya), and the walkways are dotted with sculptures by the likes of radical ceramicist Peter Voulkos and detritus/horse sculptor Deborah Butterfield.

Among the rotating collections in the pre-boarding area, I was delighted to bump into 'Moto Bellissima', a small collection of Italian postwar lightweight motorcycles, from Bay Area collectors, all of whom have been featured in The Vintagent.

The motorcycle names may not all be 'familiar', as each manufacturer has long since disappeared from the land of the living, but they represent a period when a youngster could aspire to owning an exquisite piece of functional sculpture.  There is simply no equivalent today for an aspiring rider to lay awake at night, fantasizing over the ownership of such a beautiful little machine, and how it would change their life forever.  Because they did, and do still.

1968 Mondial 'Record Sport' 48cc; surely among the loveliest of all lightweights?

The Italians spared no detail on their small machines; note Campagnolo manual disc front brake.

1959 Giulietta Super Sport 50cc; Fratelli Peripoli made mopeds and lightweights

Big name, little bike; Maserati 125cc GTS of 1957

The Giulietta's distinctive tail section

Beautiful lines, lyrical paint job

1965 Moto Morini 50cc 'Corsarino' ('Little Pirate' - Dennis the Menace with a sword!)

1961 Capriolo Turismo, 100cc

1959 Atala Freccia d'Oro ('Golden Arrow'), using a distinctive twistgrip shifter (like a scooter).  Atala had been making motorcycles since 1923!

1969 Itom Astor Super Sport 50cc

Leo Tartarini's ItalJet Mustang Veloce of 1969; good for over 60mph from a 50cc engine

Posted in: Atala, Capriolo, Events 2011, Exhibitions, Giuletta, ItalJet, Itom, Laverda, Lightweights, Maserati, Mondial, Morini, Trends