Built by an Argentinean, a 210 cc Gilera, his first custom effort. I think it demonstrates you don't need 1000 cc+ to make an interesting bike.
From the side, you don't have a good sense of the narrow nature of the bike, but the rear view shows it off. I like the girder, a Sachs, and the fabricated unique fairing topping it. It's minimal, you have to look for it.
Gileras and other European bikes were sold by Sears in the 1960's as their 'Allstate' brand.
Montgomery Wards also sold re-badged European bikes, including dual-purpose bikes. Their bikes were 'Riverside' badged, and dual-purpose bikes were 'Mojave.' The dual-purpose body lines favored the Rickman Brothers 'Metisse.' Supposedly Steve McQueen was retained to help them develop their offerings.
I remember pouring over those ads in the catalogs, and dreaming about owning one.
Anyone recognize the NFL stars in the ad? I'm guessing they're vintage 1965, when they would probably have been lucky to earn $35,000/year which according to the Consumer Price Index today would be equivalent to ~$257,000.
I'm gonna guess, the guy in the short-sleeved shirt is Gale Sayres? And Ronnie Bull on the right? Rudy Bukich on the left? In other words, since both Montgomery Wards and Sears were based in Chicago, it was easy to use the Bears as ad fodder.
From the side, you don't have a good sense of the narrow nature of the bike, but the rear view shows it off. I like the girder, a Sachs, and the fabricated unique fairing topping it. It's minimal, you have to look for it.
Gileras and other European bikes were sold by Sears in the 1960's as their 'Allstate' brand.
Montgomery Wards also sold re-badged European bikes, including dual-purpose bikes. Their bikes were 'Riverside' badged, and dual-purpose bikes were 'Mojave.' The dual-purpose body lines favored the Rickman Brothers 'Metisse.' Supposedly Steve McQueen was retained to help them develop their offerings.
I remember pouring over those ads in the catalogs, and dreaming about owning one.
Anyone recognize the NFL stars in the ad? I'm guessing they're vintage 1965, when they would probably have been lucky to earn $35,000/year which according to the Consumer Price Index today would be equivalent to ~$257,000.
I'm gonna guess, the guy in the short-sleeved shirt is Gale Sayres? And Ronnie Bull on the right? Rudy Bukich on the left? In other words, since both Montgomery Wards and Sears were based in Chicago, it was easy to use the Bears as ad fodder.
