Motorcycle specifications Moto-Guzzi500 V8 Ottocilindri 1955 Unsatisfied masterpiece

The machine was complex, its name simple: V8.

In 1955, Moto-Guzzi struck a blow with an engine that would remain one of its most charismatic creations: a 500cc, water-cooled, 8-cylinder V8 equipped with 8 Dell'Orto 20mm carburetors for 78 horsepower at an unbelievable 12,000 rpm.

Designed by Giulio Carcano in 1954, the V8 was intended to crush the 4-cylinder dominators Gilera and MV Agusta. Carcano, a genius engineer, chose this architecture after a crushing defeat at the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix. The Guzzi 500 single-cylinder engine, though light, compact and streamlined, could not match the power of the competing 4-cylinders. The engineer considered it impossible to compete with a 4-cylinder (given the delay in development compared to Gilera and MV Agusta). As for the in-line 6-cylinder, its excessive width made it unthinkable. Carcano therefore opted for a V8, a guarantee of power and compactness, despite the development difficulties.

The architecture was validated in September 1954, and Giulio Carcano, surrounded by a team of just 11 technicians, achieved the feat of getting his engine up and running in 6 months. The complete motorcycle even made its first test run on the Monza circuit in April 1955.

Fine-tuning the engine and making it more reliable proved difficult. The chassis was also plagued by problems, not least the enormous power of the engine, which destroyed the best tires of the day.

Bill Lomas, official Moto-Guzzi rider and developer of the V8, nevertheless finished 3rd in the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix (after a breakage in Holland); the rest of his season was marred by a crash and a broken wrist.

1957 began with a victory for Giuseppe Colnago (replacing the still-injured Lomas) at the Siracusa GP. And despite recurring reliability problems, the company achieved some good results, such as 4th place on the Isle of Man, despite a V8 that only ran on 7 cylinders. Throughout the rest of the season, the V8's power continued to wreak havoc. It hammered the tires, clutch and suspension. And although the bike was always at the front, it was often forced to retire.

In 1958, Moto-Guzzi, like Gilera and Mondial, decided to abandon its official speed championship program, prematurely retiring the V8. Giulio Carcano had, however, upgraded the V8 for even greater reliability and power (there was talk of 82 hp).
Bill Lomas, a rider with close ties to Moto-Guzzi, decided to put an end to his career following the brand's withdrawal.

Nonetheless, this unique motorcycle was a great human adventure that left its mark on several generations of motorcyclists. A technically unforgettable motorcycle, despite its limited track record.

Tanthallas - Photos D.R.