Italian Motorcycles

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


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.



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

    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, MilanoMC - 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

    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.