The Chimera was a bit ahead of its time – despite rarely seen features (for the time) like a single rear shock and the futuristic styling, Aermacchi was only able to sell 119 examples of the 175cc variant and 177 examples of the 250cc. Here’s an example of the former that will unfortunately need some work before it hits the road again.
The 175 engine (actually 172.4cc) was a horizontal single that produced 13 horsepower, good for a top speed just shy of 70 miles per hour. Nowadays the Chimera is valuable as a design piece and for its rarity – you’ll find examples at the National Motorcycle Museum and Barber – so I’m hoping there’s someone out there who’s willing to take on this project. For more information on the Chimera (and a couple of photos that show you what this could look like once it’s restored), check out this profile from Motorcycle Classics.
This example is clearly a restoration project. The engine is free, there’s no ‘deep rust’ because it was stored in a dry garage in South Italy, and it comes with a new exhaust and set of tires. The seller says the bike is 99% complete, but with a bike this rare, good luck with that 1%! Find this Chimera for sale in Bassano del Grappa, Italy with an unmet opening bid of $3,250