Ancillotti Motorcycles: Florence’s Brand Becomes Italy’s First MISE-Listed Motorcycle Brand
Ancillotti Motorcycles, a renowned Italian brand known for its motorcycles and scooters, boasts a history of over 50 years of success.
Accustomed to excelling through the technical and aesthetic features of its bikes, Ancillotti Motorcycles now has a new achievement: it is the first motorcycle and scooter brand registered in the Special Register of Historical Marks of National Interest by the Ministry of Economic Development (MISE).
The Special Register of Historical Marks
The Special Register of Historical Marks, established by MISE in 2019, identifies companies of excellence in the national territory whose brands have been registered for at least 50 years.
Ancillotti Motorcycles is the first motorcycle and scooter brand to be listed in this Special Register, with registration number 126.
Brands in the register can use the "Historical Mark of National Interest" logo featuring Italy.
The Origin of the Ancillotti Brand
The Ancillotti Motorcycles logo features a stylized image of a flying beetle with outspread wings.
How did the idea for this image come about?
In 1967, Gualtiero Ancillotti, along with his two sons Piero and Alberto, tested their modified motorcycles along Via delle Cascine in Florence. In the middle of the avenue stands a peculiar stone building shaped like a pyramid, the famous Piramide de’ Medici, built in 1796. On its portal is a bas-relief of a flying beetle with outspread wings.
Inspired by this unusual sculpture, the Ancillotti family decided to adapt it into the well-known logo that has been part of the Special Register of Historical Marks of National Interest since 2020.
The History of the Company
In 1907, Ernesto Ancillotti opened a mechanical repair shop. Following in his father’s footsteps, his son Gualtiero established his own workshop in 1938, named Ancillotti Elaborazioni Specialità Moto, dedicated to modifying scooters and competition motorcycles.
In 1967, the small workshop became the renowned Società G. Ancillotti e figli, and in 1972, it evolved into Ancillotti Motorcycles S.r.l.
From 1967 to 1986, Ancillotti produced approximately 40,000 cross, enduro, and trial motorcycles in around a hundred models, with engine sizes ranging from 50 c.c. to 250 c.c.
The most famous model from Ancillotti was the Scarab, a name still used today for Ancillotti’s high-performance MTB bikes.
The Bikes That Made History
Ancillotti’s reputation began with its early modifications of the Lambretta Innocenti: the Lambretta Ancillotti Special 200 c.c. Monza and the Lambretta Ancillotti Super Sprint 250 c.c. Elvington.
The former achieved great success on the Monza circuit on December 2, 1965, setting a world speed record for its class.
The latter achieved two consecutive victories in October 1966 at the Elvington circuit in England, records that remain unbeaten.
In 2009, in collaboration with Friba Racing, Ancillotti Motorcycles produced the Ancillotti 125 G.A. Cross, dedicated to Gualtiero Ancillotti and made in only 4 units. One of these won first place in the 125 c.c. class at the First MX Motorsprint Trophy in Polcanto in 2010.