Giuseppi Benelli designed a new 175cc gear-driven OHC sports machine for the 1927 season which proved to be most impressive and soon migrated to serious competition. Tonino achieved many victories including the factory's first major win at the Monza GP. This led to an Italian 175cc Championship win in 1927 and again in 1928.
Subsequently Benelli dominated the competition, winning more races in 1929 and another Italian Championship for Tonino in 1930.
The machine pictured is a production racer which was campaigned by Giovanni Francesco Bientinesi. It has an external flywheel, hairpin valve springs, oil cooler, the quick release filler caps and a disc rear wheel, along with an Albion gearbox, Terry saddle and Amac carb.
Source: Motomania
Benelli made a victorious debut at the 1927 Lario Circuit, taking the top three places in the 175cc category and setting new class records with its star rider, Tonino Benelli. The following year, Tonino Benelli won the race again, easily beating his own previous records, while the Pesaro-based marque also secured third place. In 1929, luck was not on the side of the Pesaro manufacturer; while leading the race, Tonino Benelli suffered a puncture and retired, though not before setting the lap record. He redeemed himself in 1930, finishing first in the category, with another Benelli machine taking third place... Continued...
