Post-Listing Update: Despite being relisted, this Cimatti did not meet reserve with bidding up to $2,600.
Two years ago, a reader let me know that a motorcycle museum in Denver was letting go of seven small Italian bikes. One of them was this 1966 Cimatti 160, which had just 10 miles on the odometer. Since then it’s gone through two owners, a little bit of work to get it running, and 110 miles, but it’s now up for sale again.
Much like the partnerships between Wards Riverside and Benelli or Sears and Puch, Cimatti’s were imported to the US through a retail store chain – in this case, Gamble’s. This specific example apparently sat in a store for years as no one would buy it due to a scratch on the front forks. It eventually made its way to the collection of the late Jim Dillard, and it’s bounced around a couple of times since then.
Now it has just 120 miles and it’s claimed to be completely original – while the battery is new, the tires are still the original Michelin Rapidos and the seller says they show no evidence of cracking or rot. It’s truly in impressive shape, and the seller says it’ll start with one or two kicks whether it’s hot or cold.
For what it’s worth (which isn’t much), the first time this bike was offered, the BIN was $3,500. Find this Cimatti for sale in Deerfield, Illinois with bidding up to $1,025 and the reserve not yet met