Lot withdrawn: please contact Bonhams for more information about this lot

1978 Ducati 500GTV
Frame no. C*550385* 150420
Engine no. DM500.1505012
The first version of the Ducati parallel twin – new in 1975 - was designated GTL - Gran Turismo Lusso - both as a 350 and a 500. The styling was the work of Ital Design's Giorgetto Giugiaro. He had previously been commissioned to create the 850GT, and he continued his angular theme. At the time neither the 860GT, nor the parallel twins, received the love they needed to be a success in the showroom, although they did much better on the street once you were riding. Today, however, the cognoscenti are 'coming round' to a new appreciation.

The engine was decidedly over-square, and some thought visually over-built, with both 350 and 500 capacities available. Alloy cylinders - cast as one piece - had replaceable pressed-in, steel liners. A single overhead camshaft operating two valves per cylinder was chain driven. The pistons rotated 180 degrees, which meant the engine smoothed out at speed but vibrated somewhat at lower revs. The crankshaft ran on plain bearings, the gearbox contained five gears. and all seemed to be solid.

The single downtube chassis was switched for two downtubes for the new 1977 Sport Desmo and GTV models, now with new bodywork mimicking that of the Darmah. However, none actually had desmodromic valve gear. Even these final two models received a bad rap ensuring that the series would disappear into the darkest appendix in any Ducati history book. Ducati made 4,488 bikes in the series, including only 453 of the GTV. This example was found in New Zealand and brought to America. It is original and unrestored condition; the vendor had his mecahnics ensure that it was in fully running condition and ike it were as it left the factory.