American Italian Alliance Sprints to the Block
Little racer has the appearance of a luxury touring type motorcycle.
Marketed Company
Propelled by affordability and availability, small-displacement motorcycles grew in popularity during the late 1950s. Not wanting to miss out on potential revenue, Harley-Davidson decided to buy half of the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Aermacchi, in 1960. Marketed as Harley-Davidsons in the USA, and Aermacchi Harley-Davidsons elsewhere, the little interloping bikes soon became synonymous with the Motor Company.
Photos courtesy of Bonhams.
Wisconsin Arrival
The original plan had been for Aermacchi to design a motor for Harley-Davidson's existing Sportster frame, but the idea was scrapped due to the lack of development lead time. Subsequently, Harley-Davidson's first import was a street version of the Ala d’Oro 250—Aermacchi's potent little racer. Initially dubbed the 'Wisconsin' upon arrival, the re-badged units were quickly renamed to the more familiar 'Sprint.'
Repatriated Sprint
The Aermacchi Harley-Davidson Sprint Scrambler was an early venture into off-road machines. Shown here is a restored example of a rare 1967 Sprint CRS—a purpose-built racing machine that was delivered without lights, front mudguard, or speedometer. In a bit of circular history, this Sprint CRS originally belonged to Sid Rhodes of San Jose, California, but was repatriated back to Italy in 2010.
Luxury Contrasts
In a 1966 review, Cycle World stated, “The CRS is in every sense of the word a racing motorcycle.” In admiration, the magazine went on to say that beyond their expectations, “The CRS is beautiful. Brilliant Italian-racing-red, flawlessly applied, contrasts sharply with highly-polished engine castings and has the appearance of a luxury touring type motorcycle.”
Alternative Models
Initial reception to the Sprint was mixed. Many Harley-Davidson dealerships were annoyed with the foreign-made bikes cluttering up their showroom floors. Yet, American motorcycle riders were shifting their preferences away from larger machines. Commuters and Sunday riders were beginning to appreciate smaller and more modern European and Japanese models, while racers were looking for an alternative to large capacity British machines.
Smooth Kicks
As the 1960s progressed, the Sprint began to prove itself. In 1964, a streamliner version hit 150 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. In its Scrambler form, the Sprint was also doing well in AMA road and dirt racing. Cycle World reported, “In terms of pure speed on smooth, fast, hard surfaces, the CRS was a definite match for a 500cc machine we had taken along for kicks.”
Venture Rights
By 1976, the little 250cc bike had won three consecutive Road Racing World Championships. Sensing success, Harley-Davidson acquired complete control of Aermacchi in 1974. It was a short-lived takeover. Under the financial direction of the AMF, the Motor Company pulled the plug on the venture in 1978. Newly established Cagiva Motorcycle then bought the Italian factory and the model rights.
Key Sell
As an American-specific, off-road racing machine, the Sprint CRS is a rarity in Europe. In Fall 2022, it will cross the block at Bonhams' Passione Moto, an auction of vintage Italian race bikes hosted by the Moto Dei Miti Museum in Civita Castellana, Italy. It is expected to sell for between $18,200 and $22,770. Bonhams notes that the machine is “offered without a key.”
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