Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
26th Mar, 2025 9:00
c. 1953 Gilera Saturno
The Italian Gold Star
Estimate
£6, 000 - £7, 000
Registration No: OXS 350
Frame No: 2610012
MOT: Exempt
Typically Italian 500cc sports bike
Unit construction 44bhp engine
Run recently, supplied with a V5C
The Italian motorcycle manufacturer Gilera was founded in Arcore in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera and is still in existence today after the company was purchased by the Piaggio group in 1969. After WWII, Gilera dominated Grand Prix motorcycle racing, winning the 500cc road racing world championship six times in eight years, but after facing a downturn in motorcycle sales due to the increase in the popularity of automobiles after the war, they quit Grand Prix racing after the 1957 season. Gilera offered a range of mainly four-stroke engined single-cylinder machines ranging from 100cc to 500cc, the most famous being the Saturno designed by Giuseppe Salmaggi. Thought of as the Italian Gold Star, it formed the basis of many race bikes in the day.
This c. 1956 Saturno was imported into the UK in 1980 and has been part of an enthusiast's small private collection, a keen rider it has been enjoyed by him on days out around the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales on many occasions. Restored a few years ago and showing a nice patina, it is offered in mostly original condition with just a later Dellorto carburettor fitted to aid starting. Always thought of as the Italian Gold Star, in many ways it was more advanced with its unit construction engine producing 44bhp. A rare model in the UK, the bike started and ran when being photographed and comes supplied with a current V5C.
