12-1 Update: The seller of this bike is now trying an auction instead of a BIN. Find this Italjet Vampire back on eBay with an opening bid of $3,500.
Italjet is a (surprise) Italian manufacturer of small motorcycles founded in 1959 by Leopoldo Tartarini. A pilot by trade, Tartarini ended up completing a 60,000 km trip around the world on a Ducati 175 the year before he started Italjet.
The Italjet Vampire was a fantastic-looking small displacement racer produced by this barely-known firm. The Vampire was specifically designed only for race tracks, with a frame made of molybdenum steel and a “specially prepared” engine. Produced for 3 years, it’s incredibly hard to find information on these bikes, let alone actual examples for sale. The engine was a air cooled two stroke with a 13:1 compression ratio that utilized a 20mm Dell’orto carb. Producing 11 horsepower at 11,000 rpm, the factory clocked a top speed of 80.7 miles per hour. Other little tidbits – you got a 4-speed close ratio transmission with a wet clutch, and Pirelli tires front and rear. The whole package weighed just 110 pounds in “full racing trim”. Want to learn more? You’ll have to do some digging, but you can find information on the English version of Italjet’s History page.
This specific Italjet Vampire got a fresh top end back in the 70s after it was done with racing duty, and it has been since been recently restored by the current seller, who has prepped it for the track. It apparently hasn’t had more than a start to make sure it runs, and it’s received a new set of Heidenau race tires.
Find this Italjet Vampire for sale with an opening bid of $6,000 in San Diego, California
