Description
Gitan Libeccio | 1958
Highlights:
– 125 cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine
– 18,000 km indicated on odometer
– Enduro specification in the style of the 1950s factory Six Days machines
– Long list of renewed and overhauled components according to the seller
– Supplied with all parts to return it to original road specification
The private seller offers for sale this 1958 Gitan Libeccio, powered by a 125 cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine. Dressed in a vivid red and black livery with the classic Moto Gitan emblem on the tank, this little Italian has been built in the spirit of the works enduro machines that the Italian factories sent into battle in the 1950s, and according to the seller it is a replica of those official factory enduros. It certainly looks the part: raised handlebars, gaitered front forks, knobbly tyres, a high-mounted front mudguard, a sprung solo saddle and a black frame set against polished alloy engine cases give it a lean, purposeful stance that is full of period charm. The odometer indicates 18,000 km, and the two-stroke single drives through a four-speed gearbox. The seller reports that a considerable amount of work has been carried out, with renewed components including the front wheel, shock absorbers, seat, chain and sprockets, ignition, handlebars, fuel tank and fuel taps, tyres, levers, cables, piston rings and the front mudguard, while the front fork and the carburettor have been overhauled. The registration documents, parts 1 and 2, are present. A particularly appealing detail is that all the parts needed to rebuild the motorcycle back to its original road-going specification are included in the sale, giving the next owner the freedom to enjoy it as a characterful enduro replica or to return it to the way it once left the factory.
Moto Gitan was founded by Gino Tansini, whose own first name gave the marque its title, and its lightweight motorcycles were built in Caorso in the Piacenza area of northern Italy. Across the 1950s, 60s and 70s the company concentrated on nimble, affordable two-strokes, exactly the kind of spirited small-capacity machines that put post-war Italy on two wheels. Early Gitan models relied on engines from Mi-Val before the firm went on to develop powerplants of its own. The Libeccio, named after the warm south-westerly wind of the Mediterranean, was one of the marque’s 125 cc models of the mid-1950s and shared its wind-inspired naming with siblings such as the Scirocco. This was the golden age of Italian lightweights, when light, simple and robust 125 cc machines excelled in regularity trials and the International Six Days, and that competition heritage is exactly what this enduro-styled Libeccio celebrates. Gitan motorcycles are seldom seen today, which makes this Libeccio a distinctive proposition for collectors of Italian lightweights, riders of classic regularity and enduro events, or anyone who appreciates the craftsmanship and character of a small Italian marque from the 1950s.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Technical condition
4 — Very Good. Mechanically solid, with potential for minor servicing.
Overall condition
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
