Benelli 1935ca type 4 TN 493 cc 1 cyl OHC 3503

Benelli 1935ca type 4 TN “Turismo Normale” 493 cc OHC two-port frame # 8850 engine # 4TN.10.8850

The firm of Benelli was founded in the Italian village of Pesaro as a repair workshop by widow Teresa Benelli to provide a future for her six sons. Initially, the brothers worked in a small garage where they created their first motorcycle in 1919. That first model was not a success so it was further developed and brought on the market in 1921. This “Velomotore” was a light 124 cc two stroke and within a few years this design was developed for motorcycle racing. The youngest of the Benelli brothers, Tonino, turned out to be of the most talented Italian racers in the 1920s and 1930s. He made his debut in 1923 and started racing the newly-developed 172 cc model towards the end of the twenties. This sophisticated outside-flywheel engine had been developed by his brother Giuseppe and had a gear-driven overhead camshaft. It is said that Giuseppe Benelli was inspired by a theoretical study of an engine by Edward Turner published in 1925 by the French magazine Moto Revue. The 172cc OHC machines were very popular in the early thirties but by 1935 they had been replaced by 246cc models. Benelli then made machines in the 250 and 500 class, all with gear-driven OHC engines. Racing models of these machines were very successful on the tracks. Main types for the roadgoing models were the “Turismo” and the “Sport”. Next to the motorcycles three-wheel transport carriers were sold in good numbers.

The machine we present has been excellently restored a number of years ago and was until recently part of a private collection of high-class Italian machines. She comes with full electric lighting, Dell’Orto carb, centre stand and coil ignition. Bore x stroke of the two-port overhead cam engine are 85 x 87 mm. The primary chain runs in a polished aluminium casing and the three-speed gearbox is foot-operated. This beautiful Italian quality machine has a current Dutch registration.