9 - 1955 MV AGUSTA SQUALO

1955 MV AGUSTA SQUALO Serial Number 4100955V French Collector’s Vehicle Registration Certificate No technical inspection The 175 Squalo is one of the machines that helped build the brand’s sporting legend. A true “customer racer” with approximately 200 units produced between 1954 and 1957, the “Squalo” (shark) is a rare machine. The 175cc single-cylinder engine with a single camshaft was mounted in a chassis closely derived from official race bikes. Rules prohibited MV’s sophisticated dual-overhead-camshaft racing engine, so the Squalo was powered by an upgraded version of the 175 cm³ single-camshaft engine from the touring model, but with a 5-speed transmission. The frame was equipped with an Earles fork. The oversized drum brakes (180 mm in the front and 150 mm in the rear) helped keep the performance of this superb machine—rated at 150 km/h—in check! Renowned for its ruggedness, speed, and beauty, the 175 Squalo was very popular throughout Europe. Riders such as Derek Minter and Mike Hailwood rode it to victory in numerous 175 cm³ races and even in 250 cm³ races with bored-out engines. The Squalo was primarily intended for Italian Formula racing, but it quickly dominated the 200 cm³ class in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, despite having a list price higher than that of a Manx Norton! In fact, it was one of these small MVs, bored out to 196 cm³, that enabled the great Mike Hailwood to claim his very first race victory at Oulton Park in 1957. The motorcycle has been restored, but it will need to be brought back to running condition.