Editing Aermacchi (section)

==Motorcycles==
[[File:1957 Aermacchi Chimera.JPG|alt=A blue and cream-colored motorcycle|thumb|A 1957 Aermacchi Chimera at the [[Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum]]]]

=== 1950s ===
Aermacchi began producing motorcycles in c. 1951; the first Aermacchi to be marketed to the public was a scooter/motorcycle hybrid called the 'Convertible', with the majority of working parts semi-enclosed, an under-saddle engine and foot boards, a conventional motorcycle fuel tank position and {{convert|17|in|abbr=on}} wheels.

It was succeeded in 1953 by the 'Zeffiro' which was offered with a 125&nbsp;cc or 150&nbsp;cc [[two-stroke engine]]; these later models had upgraded suspension but remained similar in appearance.

In 1955, they produced the 125&nbsp;cc Monsone, followed by the 150&nbsp;cc Corsaro, both of which had [[Suspension (motorcycle)#Rear suspension|pivoted fork rear suspension]] and [[telescopic fork|telescopic front forks]]. They were [[two-stroke engine|two-stroke]]s like the early models and ran a 4-speed gearbox.

In 1956 they produced their first over head valve [[four-stroke engine]] on the Chimera fitted horizontally, a layout which would become a standard for the marque. Similar to their first offering, the Chimera kept many enclosed working parts.

In 1957 they released a series of sport models, powered by a [[single cylinder]] [[over head valve|ohv]] engine in 175&nbsp;cc or 250&nbsp;cc [[Engine displacement|displacement]]s. Aermacchi continued with scooter production, but sales were poor and they were unable to compete in the market amongst the well established [[Vespa]]s and [[Lambretta]]s, and concentrated solely on the production of motorcycles.<ref name="A">{{cite book |last1=Ayton |first1=C J |title=Guide to Italian Motorcycles |date=1985 |publisher=Temple Press |location=Middlesex |isbn=0-600-35141-6 |pages=10–15 |edition=First}}</ref>

=== 1960s and beyond ===

In 1960, US business [[Harley-Davidson#Small: Hummer, Sportcycle and Aermacchi|Harley-Davidson]] motorcycles purchased 50% of Aermacchi's motorcycle division. The Italian branch of the brand was named 'Aermacchi-Harley-Davidson' and the first bike was a variation of the 'Ala Verde' suitably modified for the American market. This was also the year that the Chimera ceased production.

The remaining motorcycle holdings were sold in 1974 to [[Harley-Davidson#Tarnished reputation|AMF-Harley-Davidson]], with motorcycles continuing to be made at Varese.

The business was sold to [[Cagiva]] in 1978.<ref name="A"/>

=== Racing History ===
After the Harley Davidson investment, Aermacchi branched out into racing with a 250&nbsp;cc production-volume Ala d'Oro for [[road racing]] competition. Early results varied but over years of bike development the team placed third during the 1966 350&nbsp;cc World Championship with racer [[Renzo Pasolini]] and third again in 1968 with [[Kelvin Carruthers]]. The following year Carruthers competed at the [[Isle of Man TT]].

A new era began in 1971 with the development of twin-cylinder two-stroke racers of 250cc and 350cc capacity, designed at Aermacchi by their chief engineer, Ing. William Soncini. The first 250cc racer was very fast, with 46&nbsp;hp at 11,000rpm, and weighed only 250&nbsp;lbs. After Harley-Davidson acquired 100% of Aermacchi in 1972, they funded further racing development at the Aermacchi factory, and the racers were branded with Harley-Davidson on their fuel tanks.  These two-stroke twins provided Harley-Davidson with their only Grand Prix wins, and four [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champions|World Championships]]: [[1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|250cc World Championship in 1974]], [[1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|'75]], and [[1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|'76]], and the [[1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|350cc World Championship in 1976]], all under rider [[Walter Villa]].<ref>Walker, Mick: Mick Walker's Italian Classic Gallery - the Racing Bikes. 1991, Haynes. {{ISBN|0-85429-835-5}}</ref>

=== List of Motorcycle Models (incomplete) ===
*250 Cross
*350
*500 [[Linto]]
*Ala Azzura
*Ala Bianca
*[[:it:Aermacchi Ala d'Oro|Ala d'Oro]] (Golden Wing) [1958-1961]
*Ala Rossa
*[[:it:Aermacchi Ala Verde|Ala Verde]]
*Biccindrico
*[[:it:Aermacchi Chimera|Chimera]]
*Convrtible
*Corsaro
*Drixton
*Monsone
*Sprint 250
*Sprint 350
*Wisconsin 250
*Zeffiro