I've been meaning to show this to you guys...

[ArtD]

http://www.memorylaneracing.com/guzzi/

 

Hi everybody, I drove cross country in record time to pick this up in the Chicago area last summer. It's a 1938 PLS 250 and it has an interesting story....(don't they all)!

 

This grand old bike was originally sent to the Moto Guzzi dealer in Lybia, and spent WW2 sitting in the window of the dealer in Tripoli. Those of you who, like me, are familiar with the battles in North Africa can imagine how many different troops from assorted armies looked at the old girl as they strolled by. After the war, it was shipped back to the factory, and spend many years in the "attic" so to speak of Moto Guzz. During the 60's Moto Guzzi decided to set up a museum, and the old girl was dragged out of the warehouse and given a complete restoration by the Factory. The bike then was displayed in the factory museum, until sometime in the 80's when Moto Guzz went thru one of its "going out of business" adventures. This one was really bad, because the factory started selling off their Museum bikes. And a cantankerous old WW2 vet with a Guzzi dealership in the Chicago area bought this one, and it sat in his window, if his dealership for many years:) So what this is, in a nutshell, is quite literately a brand new, 1938 Moto Guzzi! How cool is that?? The way that I came to be able to get a-hold of this piece of history is a whole story in itself.

 

A couple of years ago, John (thats his name), had a major falling out with Moto Guzzi over a variety of issues, and decided to sell off every one of his bikes, and that included the old ones as well as the new. He had this advertised, and I happened to see it. It had no price. I called him, and basically spend an hour talking about WW2 and Sprint car racing. During WW2 he flew B17's in the 8th air force and was a ball turret gunner. Between 1942 and 9145, This could well have been the most dangerous spot to be on the planet. Once a Ball turret gunner was "in the ball", he stayed there untill the plane landed. He could not get out. If the plane was shot down, he went down with it. If it belly landed...well, you figure it out. Then after the war, he raced sprint cars for 20+ years, back when they had no roll cages and they lost a driver a week. He's in his 80's now, and just stopped riding in 2005. This guy takes no crap from anyone, trust me on this! You can't tell him what to do, or when. If he likes you, thats it, if not...well, he'll send you on your way. Out of the blue, he said "so do you want this old bike of mine"? I said, "hell yes, but I don't know if I can afford it or not". He said, "how about this"?, and shot me a price that was much lower that it was worth, followed with "but your going to have to come and get it, I'm not going to crate it or any of that crap". I said, "I'll leave tomorrow". And I did, I told the wife " I gotta to to Chicago right now", and left in the morning from the Washington Coast.

 

When I got there, one of his Son's was there, I had to wait for him for a bit. His son told me "Man, he must really like you, he has been turning down offers for this bike constantly since the day it got here". So, we met, talked for a bit, loaded her up, tied her down, and now shes' in my Museum. It runs perfect, and everything works. I want to take her to some shows, I would like others to see this, the pics do not do the old girl justice!

[Tom M]

WOW. That's a stunner Art. Great story behind it too. You're a lucky man!

 

I don't know much about bikes of that era. What's the extra lever on the left bar for? Compression release?

 

Have you dared to try and ride it yet?

[Skeeve]

http://www.memorylaneracing.com/guzzi/

 

Hi everybody, I drove cross country in record time to pick this up in the Chicago area last summer. It's a 1938 PLS 250 and it has an interesting story....(don't they all)!

 

This grand old bike was originally sent to the Moto Guzzi dealer in Lybia, and spent WW2 sitting in the window of the dealer in Tripoli. Those of you who, like me, are familiar with the battles in North Africa can imagine how many different troops from assorted armies looked at the old girl as they strolled by. After the war, it was shipped back to the factory, and spend many years in the "attic" so to speak of Moto Guzz. During the 60's Moto Guzzi decided to set up a museum, and the old girl was dragged out of the warehouse and given a complete restoration by the Factory. The bike then was displayed in the factory museum, until sometime in the 80's when Moto Guzz went thru one of its "going out of business" adventures. This one was really bad, because the factory started selling off their Museum bikes. And a cantankerous old WW2 vet with a Guzzi dealership in the Chicago area bought this one, and it sat in his window, if his dealership for many years:) So what this is, in a nutshell, is quite literately a brand new, 1938 Moto Guzzi! How cool is that?? The way that I came to be able to get a-hold of this piece of history is a whole story in itself.

 

A couple of years ago, John (thats his name), had a major falling out with Moto Guzzi over a variety of issues, and decided to sell off every one of his bikes, and that included the old ones as well as the new. He had this advertised, and I happened to see it. It had no price. I called him, and basically spend an hour talking about WW2 and Sprint car racing. During WW2 he flew B17's in the 8th air force and was a ball turret gunner. Between 1942 and 9145, This could well have been the most dangerous spot to be on the planet. Once a Ball turret gunner was "in the ball", he stayed there untill the plane landed. He could not get out. If the plane was shot down, he went down with it. If it belly landed...well, you figure it out. Then after the war, he raced sprint cars for 20+ years, back when they had no roll cages and they lost a driver a week. He's in his 80's now, and just stopped riding in 2005. This guy takes no crap from anyone, trust me on this! You can't tell him what to do, or when. If he likes you, thats it, if not...well, he'll send you on your way. Out of the blue, he said "so do you want this old bike of mine"? I said, "hell yes, but I don't know if I can afford it or not". He said, "how about this"?, and shot me a price that was much lower that it was worth, followed with "but your going to have to come and get it, I'm not going to crate it or any of that crap". I said, "I'll leave tomorrow". And I did, I told the wife " I gotta to to Chicago right now", and left in the morning from the Washington Coast.

 

When I got there, one of his Son's was there, I had to wait for him for a bit. His son told me "Man, he must really like you, he has been turning down offers for this bike constantly since the day it got here". So, we met, talked for a bit, loaded her up, tied her down, and now shes' in my Museum. It runs perfect, and everything works. I want to take her to some shows, I would like others to see this, the pics do not do the old girl justice!

 

Simply gorgeous! A signed statement of provenance will do a lot to help ensure nobody after you thinks "this old thing is worthless," but from your description it would be almost impossible to get from the seller; it might appear too much "looking a gift horse in the mouth." Maybe you can get some info on it from Guzzi direct? Production date, anything like that.

 

Congrats on a great addition to your garage!

[jcbooghs]

FABULOUS!

Ain't got words

[ArtD]

WOW. That's a stunner Art. Great story behind it too. You're a lucky man!

 

I don't know much about bikes of that era. What's the extra lever on the left bar for? Compression release?

 

Have you dared to try and ride it yet?

 

Hey Tom, thanks for the kind words! Back in "the day" this bike had a reputation as a very reliable machine. On the left is the clutch, magneto advance, and the "extra lever" puts the bike in Neutral.

 

And No, I have not yet gotten up the nerve to ride it It runs good, and sounds really cool!! BUT......this next summer, that is going to change As my very supportive wife has pointed out, "you have to do it at least once or someday you will hate yourself for never having done it" And, once again, she's right, hence, riding the old girl( at least once) is now on my "must do this soon" list

[Garsdad]

That is beyond compare. The story is too cool, and the bike is even cooler! She does deserve at least one run along the coast; let us know when the event will happen and I'm sure she would have a gaggle for escort.

[Guest ratchethack]

Art, congratulations on a most unique find and most prestigious acquisition! This is no doubt one o' those "once in a lifetime" deals that guys (like me, f'er instance ) spend way too much time dreaming about. . . Some day -- yeah. Some day. . . It could happen. . . Thanks for the encouragement, there must be at least a few more of SOMETHING like 'em out there . . . somewhere. . .

 

Happy trails on the ol' girl. May they be many, long, and enjoyable.

 

BTW -- Where do you get a wife with an attitude like yours?!

[ArtD]

Art, congratulations on a most unique find and most prestigious acquisition! This is no doubt one o' those "once in a lifetime" deals that guys (like me, f'er instance ) spend way too much time dreaming about. . . Some day -- yeah. Some day. . . It could happen. . . Thanks for the encouragement, there must be at least a few more of SOMETHING like 'em out there . . . somewhere. . .

 

Happy trails on the ol' girl. May they be many, long, and enjoyable.

 

BTW -- Where do you get a wife with an attitude like yours?!

 

Thanks!! It was one of those moments that everything went right and fate took over. I found it within hours of him putting it up for sale, and the the guy that I got it from was a real straight shooter, he took it off the market right away after we made a deal. If he and I did had not clicked, he could have gotten far more than I could have spent. We actually had a couple of spare nickels to rub together, and it took all of them! I had the time to go and get it, it all worked out like...well...you dream about !

 

 

This next summer I am going to get her out and do somthing that has not been done for a long time, run her down the road the way her makers intended race.gif

 

I am truly blessed to have someone with me that is just about as into all of this as I am!!!

[callison]

That beats the crap out of the story I had where I bought a 1967 Fiat 2300S from my boss, who had bought it from a Navy radioman, who won it from an Italian colonel in a card game in Naples. That car was turned into razor blades a long time ago, but the story was pretty cool. That doesn't even come close to this though. Wow! Congratulations.

[v11cafe]

Very nice bike.

Thank you for the photos, it is not often to see a so well preserved bike, and such good story.

Some years ago I was close to buy one, but it was in parts in a crate

and I backed off when I realized the size of the restoration project.

Take care of her,....and enjoy !!!

[jihem]

It's a 1938 PLS 250 and it has an interesting story....(don't they all)!

 

 

amazing story ! merci !

[DeBenGuzzi]

that is simply AMAZING, congrats on your purchase, too bad I wasn't in the right place at the right time, chicago is only 5 hours from me

ah well, you take good damn care of that girl and no speeding or dangerous roads, I want you to be real gingerly with it, imagine trying to repair a simple tip over from some sand or a careless driver <_>

check out if they have something like "wheels of italy" that they do here where around lake calhoun in downtown Minneapolis every summer they have a huge Italian car and bike show I bring mine too it every year. I'm sure they have something worthy of that 38 in your area and a perfect excuse to ride it

[stogieBill]

Amazing find Art.

 

I guess I'll go back to my dreaming now.

 

Thanks for the respite.

 

[mike wilson]

Hey Tom, thanks for the kind words! Back in "the day" this bike had a reputation as a very reliable machine. On the left is the clutch, magneto advance, and the "extra lever" puts the bike in Neutral.

 

And No, I have not yet gotten up the nerve to ride it It runs good, and sounds really cool!! BUT......this next summer, that is going to change As my very supportive wife has pointed out, "you have to do it at least once or someday you will hate yourself for never having done it" And, once again, she's right, hence, riding the old girl( at least once) is now on my "must do this soon" list

 

Extra lever (the end plug one) will more likely be a decompressor. It usually inserts a wedge on the exhaust lifter, keeping the valve open for ease of turning the engine over when starting. Good to use for engine braking at slow speeds in the dirt, too. Neutral finders are usually found on the gearbox itself.

 

Almost too nice to ride. Almost......

[ArtD]

Extra lever (the end plug one) will more likely be a decompressor. It usually inserts a wedge on the exhaust lifter, keeping the valve open for ease of turning the engine over when starting. Good to use for engine braking at slow speeds in the dirt, too. Neutral finders are usually found on the gearbox itself.

 

Almost too nice to ride. Almost......

 

Hi Mike, you could be right, no-one seems to know for sure exactly what it is. It does not seem to do anything. When I got it, the "guru" mechanic at the dealership said that he thought that it was a neutral switch, but did mention that it might be a decompression device. The thing is, its hooked up and operational, but when you pull on it while its running, nothing seems to happen.

 

I have had a terrible mental conflict about riding this machine. Of course, it was created to run and be ridden. But....time has changed that. What this is now is a brand new 1938 motorcycle. the old guy that I got it from rode it around the dealership twice, and someone at the factory/museum must have ridden it at least once down the parking lot and back, right? As has pointed out here, disaster could strike from an unforeseen source, and then what?

 

So, what to do? Well, what I'm going to do is....ride it at least once, under controlled conditions. not sure what I mean by that, but I'll figure out something.

 

After all, what could go wrong?