Description
1950's Mival 125cc sports motorbike, 2 stroke engine, toe and heal gear change, with italian papers and registration plate. Great little project for someone, I am selling this motorbike as I need more space in my garage. It's in great condition as you can see from the photographs, new chrome rims and spokes, new tyres, new exhaust system, will need a little fettling to run as it has been parked up for 10 years in my garage.
A Brief History of the machines built by Metalmeccanica Italiana Valtrompia
In the nineteen fifties, among the many new motorcycle manufacturers appeared Mi-Val, born of the passion of a group of Bolognese businessman to convert the Gardonese Pietro Beretta arms factory.
The design of the motorcycle and the manufacture of most of the components occurred in the capital of Emilia, and the machines were assembled in Gardone.
Like many Italian manufacturers of the day, Mi-Val was heavily influenced by the German DKW RT 125 which had had great success and had sold in the order of one hundred thousand units.
All members of the project were from the Bologna region. The 125 cc engine was designed by the engineer Adriano Amadori, the frame by Carlo Ronzani, suspension was the work of Luigi Bonazzi, and the pressed-metal forks and the fuel tanks were made by Augustus Bonori.
The factories are part of the old military arsenal of Gardone Val Trompia, near Brescia, purchased to start the motorcycle production of the Company Industrial Minganti Valtrompia S. p. A. which released its 125cc two-stroke Turismo in November 1950.
In all, more than a dozen versions were created with significant differences, all equipped with two-stroke engines of 125cc revised during the course of production.
There were several upgrades to the ignition system, and they were later fitted with a four-speed gearbox.
In 1951, with the death of Hector Minganti, the business name became Metalworking Italian Valtrompia S. p. A.
The Mi-Val 125 Six Days model was named for the notable results of Mi-Val at the Six Days of 1951 in the hands of Otello Spadoni.
In 1953 they began serious competition and a factory team was created, with riders Sergio Cremaschini, Ennio Longinotti, Giorgio Guerrini, Giampietro Martinelli and Franco Dall'Ara winning the gold medal at the Six Days of 1954 and 1956.
Another notable team member was the famous rider Olga Kevelos, the only woman to have won two gold medals in the ISDT.
The Gardonese company also won the enduro National Championship in 1953, 1954 and 1956.
In 1954, Mi-Val began construction of the Mivalino, a three-wheeled Messerschmitt built under licence using a 171cc two-stroke engine.
In the same year the Milan Show featured a Mi-Val 175 cc four-stroke motorcycle which entered production in 1955.
In 1956 the Mival 175 engines were built under license in Mexico by Islo Isidro Lopez, based in the city of Santillo, and in Italy the new 200 TV with a 199. 5cc OHV engine entered production. Later that year they introduced a 125 four-stroke.
Also in the catalog is a 175cc DOHC road racer and a SOHC 175 motocrosser.
In 1958 production remained unchanged, but the 125 and 175 four-strokes received a 5-speed gearbox.
In 1958 and 1959, the Mi-val cross won the tricolor title with Emilio Ostorero.
Mopeds were introduced to the catalogue for 1959, along with a 125 2-stroke 4-speed Sei Giorni, the 200 Principe, the 175 4t, and the motocarrello Footman 48 cc. A 250cc version of the SOHC 175 appeared.
Mi-Val provided engines and various other components for the Norman Nippy mopeds.
In 1962 the scooterino with tubular frame, full bodywork and 3 speed gearbox appeared.
In 1967 50cc Cross Country and Competition models were added to the catalogue which also lists five other mopeds, the 125cc Sei Giorni (Six Days), 125cc Water Kart Delfino (watercraft) and the 200cc Principe.
That year motorcycle production ended and Mi-Val became part of the Beretta group, producing machine tools.
In 1992 the Mi-Val brand was sold to Icomatic of Gussago in Brescia province.
