This 1971 Moto Guzzi Ambassador 750 was purchased by the seller from the original owner back in 2014 and is now for sale after admitting to himself that the bike keeps getting pushed further down the project list. That’s a shame because this looks like the kind of bike you can perform a modest mechanical restoration on and get right to enjoying. The Ambassador was a big seller for Moto Guzzi when introduced, and for good reason – it was an excellent accomplice on the open road. This example even comes with a period-correct sidecar and is listed here on eBay with a suggested opening bid of $2,200 and no action yet.
The Guzzi Ambassador 750 earned plaudits from all sorts of riders, but especially those inclined to competition. The bike broke numerous speed records when new, demonstrating the strength of its V-twin engines. It was set up to be a grand touring machine, with a comfortable saddle and handlebars that reached back towards the driver. It’s no surprise that this example comes with a matching sidecar, as you could certainly justify bringing a passenger when piloting a machine that loved to gobble up highways and back roads like the Ambassador did.
As much as I love the sidecar, I also completely dig this Guzzi without the period accessory. From this angle, the bike fulfills that classic design edict to look fast even when it’s standing still. The seller doesn’t go into specifics but claims the bike wears a “…heavy dose of patina,” and that it sat in a barn for over 20 years before he rescued it. Of course, as with any bike or car project parked for an extended period of time, it will need the full assortment of deferred maintenance repairs before attempting road-going use.
A fun detail provided by the seller is that the original tool kit is included, which to me always speaks of a vehicle that was cherished by its owners. Pieces like these, similar to an original dealer plate frame or sales paperwork, tend to get lost when a vehicle or motorcycle is just carelessly passed from one owner to the next. As the seller notes, he purchased the bike from the longtime original owner, which is why you see artifacts like this tool kit still with Guzzi. A very cool project and one that I’m surprised has no bids (at the moment.)
I’ve always liked the Guzzi, sort of the “Mack truck” of motorcycles. Being a lifelong biker ( at 65, I just bought probably my last motorcycle, a DRZ400, but having trouble getting a plate because DMV is closed, anybody else wanting plates might take note of that) there’s one aspect of biking I could never understand, the side hack. It instantly transforms what should just be an exhilarating 2 wheel vehicle, into a half baked car with unsure handling. And then the poor schmuck riding in the side car, with no control. Sorry, the Guzzi is a fantastic machine, I’m surprised no interest but leave the side car off.
Ah, the OTHER Italian V-twin! They’ll run as long as you can ride ‘em if you know how to do your own work.
“Flying the hack” is another motorcycle art, and more than a few of us are just flat uncomfortable trying it out..as in having to reupholster the seat afterwards..
The Ambassador was a good machine for Moto Guzzi, but with the additional weight of the ‘car it would likely be a very casual ride especially as you climb past sea level!
Uh, Howard, my Father just turned 85. He celebrated by taking a ride on his Ducati Scrambler. There is hope.
I’m fact, he’s in negotiations to get a Royal Enfield to add to his fleet.
I’ve always been a fan of Guzzi. A friend of mine rode the wheels off an 850. It seemed to go forever until the oil seeped out of the rear gearcase and he wiped out the ring and pinion. That was fun to source out. But he fixed it and rode it for a few more years until I lost track of him and the bike.
I ran into a guy in Hungry Horse who has a stable full of Guzzis. The one in the picture was running rough; it was shut down and when he attempted to start it again the starter just seemed to freewheel but with a crunching noise. We suspect a broken crankshaft…
I very much doubt it’s the crankshaft, more likely is the bolts holding the flywheel to the crankshaft have sheared. The crankshaft is a very stout piece and I have yet to see one break.
Anyone that’s interested in one of these should bookmark this website: http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_loopframe.html and there’s a Facebook group that is a great resource as well: https://www.facebook.com/groups/443145212841620/
I thought they were pretty stout myself. The guy didn’t have it apart at the time and I hope to find out what happened when I drop in this weekend.
My late brother had a full-dress 1973 Eldorado 850. I was just a kid when he passed so I never had a chance of inheriting that beautiful machine.
What a cool bike…!! I am onto my second sidecar bike and I love riding a hack. I’m sorry to say Howard side car bikes are fun to ride, but you do need an increased level of skill. They can be challenging and there is no room for day dreaming. That’s what makes them fun. As far as I’m concerned a rider that can handle a hack is a better and more experienced than the average rider. If you can ride this bike then other bikes will be a breeze. My current bike is a 1977 gold wing with a custom sidecar.
Absolutely true Canada. I bought a 1925 Harley JE which came with a dismantled sidecar. When I say dismantled I mean even the chair had been taken apart and the panels flattened. I used the pieces as a pattern to enable me to manufacture a new chair which I then fitted to the bike. The old gentleman that I bought it from told me to forget that I had ever ridden a solo motorcycle and learn that a motorcycle combination was a whole different kettle of fish. So true, but once you have bogged your rods a couple of times it becomes a wonderful experience. You should try it Howard as you are still young. I am 81 and looking forward to my next bike as my 1987 Honda Rebel 450 is getting a bit heavy to balance at the traffic lights.
Hey ken, t’weach their own. I just like a motorcycle for what it is, a personal transportation device, and zipping to and fro is the nature of a bike. A sidecar turns it into something else. Good luck on the bike, the “dual sport” I found ( a block away from my home) is much more in order for the area I live in. The GW, not so much.
Which is why I bought a Harley Ultra Classic converted to a Trike. Love is never having to put your feet on the ground.
I’m slowly restoring a 73 850 now. Beautiful bikes, mine was rougher than this one when I got her.
My wife, 2 year old son and I used to commute to work/school everyday in a sidecar. We lived in Cambodia at the time so we were far from the strangest things on the road, but it was fun! We’d drop the kid off at his preschool and then motor on to the school we both worked at. I loved flying the side car on right turns and sliding it around left turns. My wife, not so much!
I live in Cambodia where I’ve got 2 Moto Guzzis – a 1986 California 2 (which I imported from France) and a 1989-ish NTX650 (which is in military olive drab and was probably brought over by UNTAC forces in 92/93 as there were a few more of the same bike all in identical olive drab). Also got a Drz along with some other more interesting bikes.
https://www.cyclegarden.com/ are probably the most famous restorers for the Eldorados and Ambassadors. You can still pick these unrestored bikes up for relatively small money – $1500+ or so – and they come up relatively frequently. Some still have ex cop bike fittings such as sirens etc.
Sold at $2100, 1 bid.
Oh, what the heck, I’ll chime in on the side of sidecars, the sidecar attached to the Guzzi is a sixties vintage, I think, a buddy of mine up in Harlowton has one I think is the same,except somebody mated a harley wheel to it, and it got a little scorched in a garage fire. I found the manufacturer, maybe a champion? Anyway, I’ve owned three harleys with sidecars, and an 81 Goldwing with a first generation California Sidecar. Still have two Evo dressers with harley sidecars, and the goldwing. It is great when you are raising a granddaughter or two, and want to go for a ride with your wife. Counterweight is the key to a stable ride. That sidecar on the Guzzi is lightweight, going around a right hand curve would be pretty easy to “fly the chair” I usually put about forty pounds of lead in my cars, helps with stability along with a steering damper.
Wherever you are, mtshootist1, be aware that you’ll need to display a “CAL PROP 65” sticker on your sidecar RE: the 40 #’s of lead have as you ride into California… and don’t be surprised if it’s confiscated at the Stateline Bug Station checkpoint! 😱🤣
In all seriousness, kudos to you and all the others that have mastered The Art of Sidecar Flight.
Nevadahalfrack
I was told by a friend that is a serious sidecar rider, where the sidecar is connected to the left side of the bike, as they drive on the left, is to accelerate slightly when taking a left corner/bend and decelerate when taking a right corner/bend. It worked for me when I had a ’53 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 fitted with a Kali lightweight chair, however, it takes big nuts to do it until you get used to it. Obviously in US it would be done the other way around.
the V twin pictured is driveshaft equiped, no?
Designed for Italian cops – its a great cruzer…
If I could pay $2,200 for the 850 I’d B on it our front C-19 or not…
I have ridden sidecars all my live, started in 1968 with a BMW 25/3 , then with KS 601 Zündapp and many more. It splits the men from the boys and is a differnt world to normal cycling. Now I ride–here in France– and happily own 4 California 2 one KTM 650 and a Dominator. Still love it at 72 and I will get a Guzzi with sidecar to make sure I don’t get bored.