There are motorcycles that are preserved as if they were museum works, and others that end up becoming something much more personal. And as we are telling you, the case of this Ducati 750 SS from 1974 It clearly belongs to the second group. Considered one of the most important and coveted motorcycles in the history of the Italian firm, its owner decided to depart from the orthodoxy of collectors to pay tribute to his father, resulting in one of the Ducati rarest classics that have recently appeared at auction.
Talk about a Ducati 750 Super Sport of round crankcase is to make it from a true legend. Manufactured in a very limited series, with only about 400 units produced, this sports car was born as a direct heir to the historic triumph of Ducati in the 200 Miles to Imola from 1972, where Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari They signed one of the most important victories for the brand. That feat gave rise to a motorcycle that today is among the most desired pieces by collectors around the world.
Precisely because of this exclusivity, any modification is usually observed with a magnifying glass. Experts especially value the absolute originality of these motorcycles, to the point that preserving the factory paint can make a difference of tens of thousands of euros in a future sale.
What’s so special about this ’74 Ducati 750 SS?
However, the owner of this unit had other plans. The Danish collector acquired the bike during the 1980s and used it for years as just another motorcycle, traveling thousands of km through Scandinavia and even making trips to northern Italy. Far from remaining immobile in a private collection, this Ducati continued to accumulate experience for decades.
The turning point came in 2005, when he decided to undertake a complete restoration. That’s when he made a decision that many purists would probably never have approved of: give up the original silver and green livery to paint the entire motorcycle in an elegant shade. British Racing Green.
Far from responding to a fashion or an aesthetic whim, the change had a strong emotional charge. The color was chosen to remember his father, a former pilot of the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Shot down over Germany during the conflict, years later he developed his professional career in Jaguarparticipating in design work within the historic British firm. The famous racing green associated with English motorsport was, therefore, a way of keeping that family bond alive.
The transformation has not affected the essential elements that determine the historical value of the motorcycle. According to the auction documentation, the motorcycle was inspected at the time by Ian Falloonone of the world’s greatest historians and specialists in Ducatiwho confirmed the authenticity of the unit. Chassis, engine and fundamental components continue to correspond to a true 750SS of round crankcase.
Now, this singular Ducati once again captures the attention of the market when it goes up for auction in Bonhams with an estimate located between 82,000 and the 106,000 euros approximately. A high figure for any motorcycle, but perfectly logical when it comes to one of the Ducati rarest and most desired ever built. It remains to be seen how buyers will react.
