A Dive into the ‘80s ! EICMA 1979 took place from November 17 to November 25, bringing together over 1,000 exhibitors from more than 18 countries for the grand unveiling of the motorcycle models set to define the 1980 season. It was during this 46th edition of the Salone Internazionale del Ciclo e Motociclo di Milano known worldwide as the Milan Motorcycle Show that Ancillotti introduced its latest Cross, Competizione, and Regolarità models. The new lineup was met with resounding success, captivating not only the public but also industry professionals. Alberto Ancillotti recalls an anecdote from those days at the show: during a lunch gathering with executives from various motorcycle brands of the time, the president of Aprilia stood up on the very first day. After asking for everyone's attention, he sportingly declared, “We must acknowledge that this year, Ancillotti has built the most beautiful bike among us all.” Indeed, the motorcycle boasted cutting-edge mechanics and aesthetics for 1980. However, despite high expectations and thousands of pre-orders, the season did not turn out as hoped for the Florence based manufacturer. That year, Ancillotti had chosen to equip its bikes with Hiro engines, but Mosconi, the owner of Hiro, was unprepared for timely deliveries. Engines arrived late in the season, in small batches that had to be divided between Ancillotti, Aprilia, and TGM. To make matters worse, despite their modern design, these engines presented numerous issues, including a cylinder head that failed to seal properly due to a copper O-ring instead of a rubber one, engine casings that overheated rather than cooled due to their reliance on cylinder water, and an excessively long crankshaft. While this design allowed the bike to start even with a gear engaged—an innovative feature it also caused such extreme flexing that the main seals couldn’t hold. The combination of late deliveries, limited supply, and design flaws cost Ancillotti thousands of potential sales that season. In response, the company switched to different engines for later models, including Tau and Minarelli, the latter described by Alberto Ancillotti as “an absolute beast!” That year, four different motorcycle models were produced, each featuring a striking multicolored diagonal striped livery in shades of blue, light blue, and black, contrasted against the yellow background of the fuel tank. The lineup included two 50 c.c. models: the AM 50 RC with a Minarelli 6V engine and the CRM 50, also powered by Minarelli. Additionally, the CRH model featured a liquid-cooled 50 c.c. engine, while the CHR/3 was equipped with a Hiro 250 c.c. engine. The “MOTORCYCLES 80” kit is a tribute to the Enduro, Cross, Regolarità, and Competition models introduced by Ancillotti Motorcycles in 1980. Crafted with meticulous artisanal care, this limited-edition kit pays homage to the timeless graphics of that era. Each piece is entirely handcrafted in the Florence region, produced in a numbered series zero/29.