Description
Frame # MG 23610 engine # MG 2488
Adalberto Garelli was born at Turin in 1886.
In 1908 he qualified as an engineer and got a commission at the Fiat factory to design a practical two stroke engine.
However, the company, was not very enthusiastic about the concept and in 1911 Garelli left to further develop his idea of a two-stroke split-single for more efficient scavenging, consisting of two parallel cylinders cast in a single block.
Both pistons with 175c displacement each were connected by a long gudgeon pin to a single conrod.
The engine had a total capacity of 350cc.
Garelli worked for other motorcycle manufacturers from 1914 to 1918 during which time he won a competition organized by the Italian Army to design a motorcycle for which he used his 350cc split-single engine.
In 1919 Garelli started his own company and constructed a 350cc motorcycle which set a long distance record from Milan to Naples.
Many famous Italian racers such as Ernesto Gnesa, Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi began their racing careers on Garelli bikes.
The Garelli 350cc split-single stayed in production until 1926 and made a major impact in racing.
The company also produced motorcycles for the Italian military.
By 1928 his motorcycle interest was waning and his factory began producing military equipment leaving motorcycle production completely. This rare machine has been restored some time ago and is in excellent shape.