Imola on Madison Avenue: Art of the Italian Two Wheel
This was the bike that saved Ducati, and launched the company's presence and ultimate domination of the Superbike class, as well as the tradition that exists today of building racing motorcycles first, to then retrofit for the street.
The 1974 Ducati 750 Super Sport is considered the most collectible and rare of any Ducati. This beautiful eggshell "green frame" Duc is modeled after Paul Smart's famous 1972 victory in the Inaugural Imola 200, known as the "European Daytona".
Less than 400 of these race replicas were ever manufactured, only in 1974, and this remains the most sought after grey-market classic Ducati there is...
This bike also spawned the eventual higher displacement 900SS ( and the race-tuned "Imola'), which Mike "the Bike" Hailwood came of retirement to mythically ride to yet another Isle of Man TT victory.
Then, in 2007, Ducati introduced the Ducati Paul Smart 1000, based on the superbly designed Sport Classic,
pictured above at the 2013 DESMO Annual BBQ.
© 2015 Tigh Loughhead
