I just got done completely reading **** Walker's "MV Agusta Fours, Complete Story", and thought I would share some of the facts that stuck out or that I didn't know. Hope you enjoy
FYI, If some of the facts are wrong, just let me know but I am pretty sure there correct but what do I know?
What does “MV Agusta” mean?
M = Meccanica “Mechanical”
V = Verghera “Verghera, Italy” Site of Manufacturing for MV 98
Agusta = Family Name
Agusta : Got it’s start with Giovanni Agusta in aviation. Renowned aviation expert.
The Agusta Family:
Owner Giovanni Agusta – Deceased 1927
Wife Giuseppina Turetta Agusta - Deceased
Son Count Domenico – Deceased 1971
Son Mario – Deceased 1969
Son Vincenzo - Deceased
Son Corrado Still Alive
Birth of MV Agusta Motorcycles: 2-12-1945
“MV 98” A 98cc two-stroke – two speed – foot operated gearbox – rigid frame
What is the MV logo = Gear gog with MV in the middle Agusta on the top
MV’s racing heritage:
75 World Championships (riders & manufactures)
270 Grand Prix victories
3,027 international race wins
What classes did MV race in: 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, & 500cc
Final Grand Prix victory was in 1976
Who rode the MV’s to all those victories?
Just a few: Agostini, Hailwood Surtees, & Reed.
The MV Agusta “name” was purchased in the 1980’s by Cagiva the same company that owned/purchased Ducati.
What does “Cagiva” mean?
CA = Castiglioni (last name of the current owners)
GI = Giovanni (father of the present owners, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni)
VA – Varese, Italy (location of the current manufacturing site)
The Varese, Italy plant was purchased by Cagiva in 1978 after Harley Davidson had closed its doors in Italy. The AMF Harley Davidson brand was manufactured in this plant.
What is the Cagiva logo = Elephant – stamped on the cylinder heads of the MV F4S 750
How did the MV F4 come about?
Discussions started between Claudio (Cagiva Owner), Massimo Tamburini (renowned designer of the Ducati 916), and intervention from Piero Ferrari, son of Enzo Ferrari.
Who developed the F4 engine?
This was a joint venture between Cagiva Research Center and Ferrari. It was accidentally released to the media in 1993 at a Ferrari press conference! After that press conference both Claudio and Piero admitted they had test ridden the machine. The engine is similar to half a Ferrari V8.
Cagiva fell on financial hardships haltering the development of the MV F4. In all likely hood this bike would have been for sale in 1994.
Did you know that when Cagiva was developing the F4 prototype it was badged as a Cagiva?
Cagiva sold Ducati during the prototype development for the F4 and that allowed this machine to be called an MV Agusta instead of possibly a Ducati, or simply a Cagiva badge.
When was the first Cagiva manufactured MV Agusta launched?
1998 it was called, “F4 Serie Oro” Only 300 were made.
As stated before can you imagine if it was actually launched in 1994! That is four years and it still took the motorcycle world by storm!
What Does “CRC” mean?
Cagiva Research Center
Who runs CRC?
Massimo Tamburini – Bimoto founder and designer of the Ducati 916.
Pictures of MV Logo, Giovanni Agusta, & Cagiva Logos
FYI, If some of the facts are wrong, just let me know but I am pretty sure there correct but what do I know?
What does “MV Agusta” mean?
M = Meccanica “Mechanical”
V = Verghera “Verghera, Italy” Site of Manufacturing for MV 98
Agusta = Family Name
Agusta : Got it’s start with Giovanni Agusta in aviation. Renowned aviation expert.
The Agusta Family:
Owner Giovanni Agusta – Deceased 1927
Wife Giuseppina Turetta Agusta - Deceased
Son Count Domenico – Deceased 1971
Son Mario – Deceased 1969
Son Vincenzo - Deceased
Son Corrado Still Alive
Birth of MV Agusta Motorcycles: 2-12-1945
“MV 98” A 98cc two-stroke – two speed – foot operated gearbox – rigid frame
What is the MV logo = Gear gog with MV in the middle Agusta on the top
MV’s racing heritage:
75 World Championships (riders & manufactures)
270 Grand Prix victories
3,027 international race wins
What classes did MV race in: 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, & 500cc
Final Grand Prix victory was in 1976
Who rode the MV’s to all those victories?
Just a few: Agostini, Hailwood Surtees, & Reed.
The MV Agusta “name” was purchased in the 1980’s by Cagiva the same company that owned/purchased Ducati.
What does “Cagiva” mean?
CA = Castiglioni (last name of the current owners)
GI = Giovanni (father of the present owners, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni)
VA – Varese, Italy (location of the current manufacturing site)
The Varese, Italy plant was purchased by Cagiva in 1978 after Harley Davidson had closed its doors in Italy. The AMF Harley Davidson brand was manufactured in this plant.
What is the Cagiva logo = Elephant – stamped on the cylinder heads of the MV F4S 750
How did the MV F4 come about?
Discussions started between Claudio (Cagiva Owner), Massimo Tamburini (renowned designer of the Ducati 916), and intervention from Piero Ferrari, son of Enzo Ferrari.
Who developed the F4 engine?
This was a joint venture between Cagiva Research Center and Ferrari. It was accidentally released to the media in 1993 at a Ferrari press conference! After that press conference both Claudio and Piero admitted they had test ridden the machine. The engine is similar to half a Ferrari V8.
Cagiva fell on financial hardships haltering the development of the MV F4. In all likely hood this bike would have been for sale in 1994.
Did you know that when Cagiva was developing the F4 prototype it was badged as a Cagiva?
Cagiva sold Ducati during the prototype development for the F4 and that allowed this machine to be called an MV Agusta instead of possibly a Ducati, or simply a Cagiva badge.
When was the first Cagiva manufactured MV Agusta launched?
1998 it was called, “F4 Serie Oro” Only 300 were made.
As stated before can you imagine if it was actually launched in 1994! That is four years and it still took the motorcycle world by storm!
What Does “CRC” mean?
Cagiva Research Center
Who runs CRC?
Massimo Tamburini – Bimoto founder and designer of the Ducati 916.
Pictures of MV Logo, Giovanni Agusta, & Cagiva Logos
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