A bike like the 1974 Ducati 750SS merely couldn’t be manufactured and offered immediately, and it’s a small miracle that it even handed within the Nineteen Seventies. A barely homologated model of Ducati’s Desmo L-twin highway racer, the 750SS was finicky, uncooked and doubtless unlawful for highway use in most locations with its fiberglass gasoline tank, Conti megaphones and unfiltered 40 mm Dell’Orto pumper carburetors. Simply 401 examples had been constructed from late 1973 into 1974, and these ‘inexperienced body’ 750s are considered some of the vital and fascinating manufacturing Ducatis ever constructed.
The story has been informed time and time once more, about how Paul Sensible and Bruno Spaggiari completed a legendary 1-2 end on the inaugural Imola 200 in 1972, catapulting Ducati to new heights globally. Nonetheless, it’s onerous to overstate the importance of the victory, as Ducati’s model recognition was regional on the time, identified largely for small single-cylinder bikes.
Ducati’s L-twin engine was nonetheless fairly new on the time, with engineer Fabio Taglioni having sketched his first L-twin simply two years prior, and a victory on the world stage may open doorways to profitable efficiency segments for the model. So it’s no shock that the Ducati brass moved to capitalize on the victory by providing a road model of the celebrated Imola Desmos, and the ensuing 750 Tremendous Sport was arguably the quickest motorbike obtainable in 1974.
Manufacturing began late in 1973, with the Tremendous Sport being simply distinguishable for its Imola-inspired inexperienced and silver paintwork with heavy flake. A half-fairing with Smiths devices was used rather than the racer’s full bodywork, however the scalloped fiberglass gasoline tank was retained—full with a transparent zipper panel for indicating gasoline degree. Given its expedited manufacturing, the paint shades various considerably between parts.
The identical can’t be stated in regards to the 90-degree L-twin, although, as its closely polished instances and Desmodromic valve gear made for a powerplant that was second to none. The early round-case 750s had been primarily based on the GT castings with Imola-style connecting rods and unfiltered 40 mm Dell’Orto pumper carburetors. Valve actuation was Ducati’s signature Desmo system, using separate cam lobes and rocker arms to open and shut the valves. Devoid of valve springs, Desmo twins didn’t expertise valve float and will function at 10,000 rpm.
Ducati’s racing growth influenced the chassis as nicely and made for a jarring, however uncompromising journey. The L-twin served as a harassed member, and irrespective of how onerous it was pressed, it didn’t flex. Suspension was excellent for the day, with a center-axle Marzocchi fork and 18-inch Borrani wheels offering sharp dealing with inside the bike’s 59-inch wheelbase. A pair of 275 mm Scarab brakes had been used up entrance, whereas a single Lockheed dealt with the rear.
Geared up with a pair of minuscule fenders, Conti megaphones disguised as mufflers and laughable switchgear within the fairing, the 1974 Ducati 750SS had minimal road-going concessions, and required common upkeep to take care of its Desmo valvetrain. Stored in tune, the 750 L-twin equipped torque in extra, and 70 hp at 9,000 rpm—good for over 140 mph in inventory trim. That energy got here at a value although, proper round $3,200, which might be over $20,000 in immediately’s cash.
Whereas the highway racing panorama shifted shortly for Ducati, there was no altering the truth that the 750 L-twin had solidified the model as a family title, and as such, the green-frame 750SS has develop into extremely wanted. One of the best examples can fetch over $200,000, however this unrestored 1974 Ducati 750SS promoting at Mecum’s Las Vegas 2025 sale is a horse of a unique colour. What it lacks in shine, it makes up for in stark originality, and it’s by some means equally as fetching.
Mecum’s particulars are depressingly slim, however the bike does look like in authentic unrestored situation, full with the right zip-in seat, Conti exhaust and different distinctive bits. The paint is authentic and in considerably presentable situation, and whereas the fairing seems to be a slight mismatch, recall that they weren’t spot-on to start with. The high-shoulder Borrani ‘5-slash’ wheels are appropriate for the machine, and when you look carefully, that’s original-spec Metzler C7 rubber as nicely. The Smiths odometer reveals simply 5,114 km [3,177 miles], and the originality is there to help it.
As soon as a prized possession of cannonball legend “Sluggish Joe” Gardella, it’s been consigned to Mecum since his passing and can be transferred to a brand new custodian at no reserve. This one’s unlikely to set a excessive mark for its hammer value, however it’s definitely some of the fascinating and authentic 750 Tremendous Sports activities left in existence.
Supply: Mecum
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