Motorcycles Built in Italy

Notes on some quite obscure Italian marques

This page lists brands for which we currently little or no information. For a more complete listing visit the Italian Index.

A

Ace 1927-31
Ace 1947-52
Alba-Gaia (1922-1932 Torino) ²
Amia = Auto Motocicli Ricambi e Accessori (1924-1927 Torino) ²
Avoni - Dino Avoni of Via Massimiliano Angelelli 1, Bologna. Placed 14th in the 1951 Milano-Taranto ¹
AMR 1979-1985

B

Barossi - sounds Italian, but is made in China. Sometimes written as Borossi.
Bacchiega 1919-1920
Bertocchi, 1920s and 1960s. Arturo e Pietro Bertocchi of Via San Vitale 55 Bologna. A 1960 advert shows bicycle accessories and pedal carts, same address. ¹
Beyer (1925 - ? Bologna) ²
Biavati, 1928. Founder: Nerio Biavati ¹
Bonfiglioli, 1932 ca.-1935. Giulio Bonfiglioli, Piazza VIII Agosto 27, Bologna ¹
Bonora, 1929-?. Canzio Bonora, Bologna ¹
Bossi, Varese 1905-1908 ^UIT, ^ARU
Bowden I.D., Milano 1922-1923 ^ITU
B.P. - Brusasco e Porta (1926-? Torino) ²
B.P.R., Cocquio Trevisago 1923-1929 ^UIT, ^ARU.
Bulon VA Busto Arsizio 1927 - 1930 ^UIT.

C

Cadore et Lario 1900
Cadore, Salò 1900 - 1910 ^UIT
Calamida 1925, Milano
Cambieri, Pavia 1910 ^UIT
Camola, Cremona 1925 ^UIT
Cantini 1926-1927, Milano
Cassani 1950s, Milano
Cattoni 1950s, Milano
Cavallotti, Pavia 1918 ^UIT
Cervinia 1950, Milano
Capello (1911-1914 Torino) ²
Cappa (1905-1910 Torino) ²
Carcano (1898-1901 Torino) ²
Carrà (1925-1926 Torino) ²
Casali Velocipedi (1925 ? Pavia) ²
C.A.S.A. = Cicli Accessori Sabazia & Affini (Savona) ²
Casati (1923-? Torino) ²
C.B.R. = Cigala - Barberis - Ruva (1911-1913 Torino) ²
Ceneri, post-WWII, Mario Ceneri, Via Don Minzoni 7, Bologna¹
Cesarani, Caravaggio 1914 ^ARU, ^UIT
C.G. Bregnano, Bregnano, 1924 - 1928 ^UIT
Chiappa, Legnano 1920 ^ARU, ^UIT
Cicli Carlo Caccia 1948
Ciclopiave mopeds built by Ferdinando Michelin who founded the FAC Michelin company, aka "Miche." ~ cyclist.co.uk, et al.
Clipper, Milano 1948 ^MC. Possibly related to Motoclipper of Milano, 1948-49. There is also a British machine named Clipper.
Custombike, Castelleone 1996 ^UIT

D

Doglioli & Terzano (Torino 1926). See also Doglioli & Civardi. ²
Dardo 50cc bicycle attachment engine. Bologna 1949-51

F

Fami, Lecco (allora provincia di Como), 1925 ^ARU,^ITU
Falchetto 1956 1960 ³
Fassi 1946 1950 ³
F.I.A.B. = Fabbrica Italiana Augusta Bologna (Fondata a Torino nel 1924 e dal 1926 a Bologna, chiude nei primi anni del 1930) ²
Fit Quadrio, Milano>,^ITU. This is possibly the same machine listed as "Fit, 1950-1954".
Foroni, Rozzano Milano, 1993. ^ITU. There is also a Foroni in Modena, 1975-80.

G

G. Pirrotta (Gorgonzola Milano) ²
Galletti scooters built by Vesting, fitted with Demm and HMW engines. c.1956-1957. (Benelli also marketed Galletti scooters, c.1958)
Gallini, Crema 1925 ^ITU

Garuffa, Milano 1923-1924 ^ARU, ^UIT

Nothing specifically related to motorcycles has come to light about Garuffa, to whom is credited: La teoria dell'autogiro La Cierva, in L'ala d'Italia, E. Garuffa 1927

And there is this:

"In Italy, an oil-burning engine for aircraft has been built to the designs of Garuffa. It is a two-stroke-cycle engine, built in both V-type and radial-type models, and is said to have given satisfactory results in block tests."

Development of the High-Speed Diesel Engine, by P. M. Heldt

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Gazzoli, Mantova 1910 ^ARU, ^ITU
G.B. Built after World War II, probably in Bologna. ¹
GF, Crema 1952 ^ITU
GG, Milano 1940 ^ITU. There was also a GG in Padua, 1928-34.
Ghelfi & Agosta, Mantova 1910 ^ARU, ^ITU
Ghia CF 1946-47, Milano ^MC
Ghilardi e Canziani 1920s, Milano ^MC
Gibellini, Luino (Como) 1904-1908 ^ARU, ^ITU
Giraudo Como 1925 ^ARU, ^ITU
Giuristi, Milano 1926-1927 ^ITU
Gerbi (1951 - ? Asti) ²
Ghirardi (1923-1938 Bologna) ²
Giacomasso (1926-1935 Torino) ²
Grazia e Fiorini, 1902-1915. Lodovico Grazia, Ettore Fiorini - Mura D'Azeglio (Gran Garage D'Azeglio), Bologna¹
G.R.G. = Fratelli Gasparoli e Ricciardelli (1925-1927 Torino)
Guerra Bergamo 1930-1932 ^ITU

H

Helium (1924-1926 Torino) ²
Hirundo scooters by M. Porrera, Torino. 150cc engine. c. mid-1950s.

I

Idra (1923-1926 Torino) ²
Iemme Motori, Ranica 1979-1981 ^ITU
Imperia (Rivalta Torinese-Torino) 1926 ²
Industria Motori Ossana 1954-1956
Ipex bicycle engine, mounted on left side of rear wheel. cyclememory.org

Ital Car, Usmate 1990 ^ITU

J

K

K2 Lecco (allora provincia di Como) 1954 - 1956. (This is probably KZ, see Vassena) ^ITU
Komet, Travac Siccomario 1960 ^ITU

L

Lanzi, Cremona 1937 ^ITU

Lazzaroni, Sedriano Milano 1910 ^ARU, ^ITU

This is possibly Emilio Lazzaroni from Milano who founded the company "La Société Jurassiene d'Aviation" with motorcycle racer Henri Cobioni. They built an aeroplane in 1910, but no record has been found of motorcycle production.

A postcard from 1956 gives the following: Lazzaroni Antonio & Figlio - Via Libertà, 18, Passirano (Brescia) - Agenzia Moto. This company, which is still in business (2023), may be related.

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Lazzati (1898-1904 Milano) ²
Lilliput (anni 1940? Brescia) ²
Limonta, Oggiono, Lake Como, 1924 ^ARU, ^UIT
Luino (allora provincia di Como) 1904 - 1908^UIT

M

MA 1939, Milano
MA-BO, c.1950. Via A. Costa 217 Bologna ¹
Mako Shark, Dolzago (Como) 1993 ^UIT
M.B. (Motori Brevetti), 1953-1954, Orfeo Baruffaldi of Via Barberia 13 Bologna ¹ (Note: There is another MB, Meccanica Benassi)
MAB ²
Maglietta, c.1930. Gino Maglietta, Bologna ¹
Mancini ³
Maggiolino, Como 1928-1930 ^ARU, ^UIT
Magrin VA ^UIT
Massi (1924-1957 Bologna) ²
Mazzetti see Fini
Manara 1931, Milano
Marabelli Diego, Pavia 1950 ^UIT
Marchetti 1926-1927
Marchand (1899-1907 Piacenza) see Orio & March and Mead Flyer (Motobici costruite dal 1907-1911 dalla Casa Automobilistica TEMPERINO di Torino)
Massi (1924-1957 Bologna)
M.C.R. (Milano)
Mattei 1925, Milano [4] - An Angelo Mattei was associated with MM in 1924.
Mattia, Pavia 1910-1914 ^UIT
Mead Flyer (Motobici costruite dal 1907-1911 dalla Casa Automobilistica Temperino di Torino) - M.C.R. ( ? - ? Milano) -
Medalini VA ^UIT
Mediolanum, Milano 1947 ^UIT - Mentioned in the index of Motor-Scooters, Motoleggerissime e Micromotori, 1950, by Armando Guglielmi
Meiller 1923, Milano ^MC
Meotti, 1948-c.1950. Camillo Meotti of Via Santo Stefano 46, Bologna ¹
MGM
Mingotti, 1937-1982 (post-war motorcycles), Augusto Mingotti of Imola (Bo), Porta Bologna, later Viale G. Amendola 3, Via Emilia 114-118 (from 1956), Bologna ¹
Minerva (1929-1934 Torino)
Motobi Invicta (1904? Torino) Olivia
Mona 1914 VA Somma Lombardo ^UIT (There is also a Quirk's Mona, Australia)
Montanari, Dorno, Pavia 1910 ^ARU, ^UIT
Monteverdi 1925-1929, Milano^MC - Possible relationship: Luigi Monteverdi was associated with Moto Aquila of Bologna.
Monticelli, Crema 1904 ^UIT
Morandi VA Gorla c.1930 ^UIT
Moroni, Rho Milano 1937 ^UIT
Moroni, Brescia 1937 ^UIT (two listings, different locales)
Moschita Cassani 1950 ^MC
Moto Merlini 1950 (There is a Moto Merlini in the 1980s)
Moto Schia, Sondrio, 1968 ^UIT
Motoliva Vestone 1930-1935 ^UIT
Motor Union ³
Minerva (1929-1934 Torino) ²
Motobi Invicta (1904? Torino) ²

N

NEC 1925, Milano ^MC
Negroni 1904, Milano (or just possibly Negrini) ^MC
Negroni 1950s - Mentioned under Comet 1952, "Bologna at the Negroni workshop in via Andrea Costa." and under Berneg "Negroni built the engines". Bruno Negroni was one of the founders of SIMAM.
Neptunus, Malgrate (Como), 1923-1926 ^ARU, ^UIT
Noris-Chiorda, Albino 1905-1910 ^ARU, ^ITU
Noseda, Como 1903 ^ITU

O

Olmi 1930-1935, Milano ^MC
Oemmeci - mopeds using Minarelli engines. Possibly related to OMC.
OMDV, Casatenovo (Como), 1950
OMR, Melzo 1935 ^ITU
Opessi 1935-1936, Milano, three wheeler with motorcycle engine by Piero Opressi ^MC
Orim 1947
Olivia ²
O.M.C. Officine Meccaniche Cremonesi (Cremona). See also OMC (Budrio)

P

Panni, Casalbuttano 1924-1927 ^ITU
Panarotto M. (1923-? Vicenza) ²
Pappagallo 1926-1927, Milano ^MC
Paselli, Aurelio Paselli of Casalecchio di Reno (Bo), Via Carducci (offcina i Amleto Del Monte) Bologna, 1933 ¹
Pavia, Pavia 1924-1938 ^ITU
Pelagatti
Peroglio ³
Piccardi VA Luino 1928 ^ARU, ^UIT
Pingo Vei, Milano 1995 ^UIT
PM 1941-1942, Milano ^MC
Pomelli VA Saronno 1968-1971 ^UIT
Ponzio & Macchi ca.1910, Milano ^MC
Priori 1930
Primus (1904-1909 Torino) ²
Pupilla (1926-1939 Torino) ²
Puki Trials, see also Puchi Collection
Pupilla (1926-1939 Torino)

R

R.A. 1927~1929 Alfredo Rizzoli of Vicolo Broglio 2, Bologna ¹
R.A.M. 1910, Milano ^MC
Rebus 1908-1910, Milano ^MC
Restelli 1905-1907, Milano ^MC
Rex Socitex - Italian representative for Rex Motoren Werk of Germany, 1955.
Roem, Albate 1982 ^ITU
Rossinelli VA Luino 1910 - Possibly related to Carrozzeria Muzzio e Rossinelli, coachbuilders in Milan in the early 1910s. ^UIT
Rosso 1925-1927, Milano ^MC
The Rover, Pavia 1924 - 1938 ^UIT
Royal Santagostino (1923-1928 Milano) ²
Royal Super 1923-1928, Milano ^MC
Ruvioli, Milano 1951 ^UIT

S

Sanciome ²
Saracco (1926-1917 Torino) ²
Saule, Como 1903-1909 ^ARU, ^ITU
Scalari, Rivarolo Fuori 1905-1908 ^ARU, ^ITU
Semeria (1909? Torino) ²
Serri 1958, Milano ^MC
Silens 1939, Milano ^MC
Sita, 1931. Built by Walter Sita of Bologna. Source: Museo del Patrimonio Industriale, Bologna
Snaip 1924, Milano ^MC
Sorati 1926-1927, Milano ^MC
Soriani 1922-1927, Milano ^MC
Spengler 1923, Milano ^MC
Steffanoni, Trezzo d'Adda, Milano 1910 ^ARU, ^ITU
Stock, Milano 1925 ^ITU
Stucchi 1953, Milano ^MC
Strumia (1910 Torino) ²

T

Taveggia 1923, Milano ^MC
TGB ³
Temperino e Mead Flyer (1908 -1924 Torino e Condove (Torino)  è stato un  Costruttore  all'inizio di Biciclette, Motobici e poi a seguire di Auto) ²
Testa, Bergamo 1903-1910 ^MC, ^ITU
Tortelli, Asola 1910 ^ITU
Tris, Pavia 1925 ^ITU
Turinga, Milano 1942 ^MC
Twip Electric Scooter, marketed by FAR of Italy, 1990s - Twip Scooter

V

Vaga Sesto Calende VA anni '50 ^ITU (Unrelated to Vaga of Milan, apparently.)
Vard-Micro 1942-43, Milano ^MC
Veggetti - engine manufacturer in the 1950s. Built 75cc engines and possibly other sizes.
Visigalli, Lodi 1910 ^ARU, ^ITU
Vitali of Romagna, MX, 1980s probably, used Tau engines.
VRP 1993 GP, adopted the Librenti project.
Volpi Scalini, Como, 1925 ^ITU

W

Wilson 1915, Milano ^MC
WTO, 1930s

Z

Zappoli, 1930s, Amedeo Zappoli, Bologna ¹
Zars, Lonato 1924 ^ARU, ^ITU
Zecchini, Brescia 1920s ^ITU
Zironi, c.1946 Athos Zironi ¹
Zucchi, Chiari 1910 ^ARU, ^ITU

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Sources
1. Museo del Patrimonio Industriale
2. Amici delle Moto-Bici Sottocanna
3. it.linkfang.org
MC. Mauro Colombo
ARU. autogallery.orc.ru - lists quite a number of Italian marques of which there is no mention elsewhere.
UIT. Unknown Italian source, lists quite a number mentioned only in the ARU page, but with more detail of dates and locations. Possibly Mauro Colombo, as a number of entries correspond with his.