Collector’s Note
Moto Morini was founded by Italian motorcycle designer and racer Alfonso Morini in 1937. After the original factory was destroyed during WWII, Morini returned to building motorcycles, specializing in the small, lightweight bikes for which the brand would become famous. Many Morini bikes enjoyed successful racing careers, with the golden era being in the 1960's when piloted by legendary Italian racer Giacomo Agostini whom many consider to be the greatest MotoGP rider of all time.
The Moto Morini we have available is from that same storied time period. It is an honest and highly original example of their beloved Corsarino model, a scaled-down "pocket rocket" version of their full size Corsaro racing bike which was equipped with ahigh revving, single-cylinder 49cc four-stroke engine with an overhead camshaft. While no direct racing provenance is available, many aspects of this Corsino point to it being configured as a competition motorcycle, including the extended tank, racer seat, mounting method, and the exceedingly rare Dellorto SS1 18C competition carburetor with external float chamber allowing for on the spot race adjustment of the jets.
The "ZZ" frame number of this Corsarino dates the bike to the late 1960's or early 1970's, and the riveted race fairing is period correct. The engine and carburetor currently function, but could benefit from a straightforward mechanical overhaul. The compact dimensions of the classic piece of golden era Italian motoring history make the Corsino an ideal piece to enjoy on the road and track or admire as an indoor static display.