500 Quattro Cilindri

Designed by Piero Remor in 1947, the Gilera Quattro Cilindri 500 was manufactured with various modifications until 1966. It was certainly one of the best known and most successful racing motorcycles of all time. Between 1948 and 1957 it won 6 world titles: in 1950 and 1952 with Umberto Masetti, in 1953, 1954 and 1955 with Geoffrey Duke and in 1957 with Libero Liberati; it also won the Italian championship 6 years in a row, the Grand Prix of Nations 7 times and numerous Grand Prix titles. In 1957 Gilera withdrew from racing, thus interrupting the irresistible progress of the Quattro Cilindri, which did, however, return to the race track from 1963 to 1966. The 1963 version had semi-integral fairing, which gave improved handling and greater stability when cornering, producing a top speed of 250 km/h.