A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured in Bologna 1952-1953
via Emilia Levante n. 168
Founded by Enzo Mengoli, the small company built motorcycles with four-stroke OHC 175cc engines and telescopic forks.
Prior to WWII Enzo collaborated with Athos Busi, building racing frames for a number of bicycle manufacturers. Subsequently the Busi firm built frames for motorised bicycles, among them one for Nettunia to house a Ducati Cucciolo.
Mengoli parted company with Busi and established his own workshop, obtaining his first engines from Amedeo Rocca, owner of O.Me.S. (Officina Meccanica Specializzata). At the Milan Fair in December 1952 he displayed a 175 Turismo with the Rocca OHC engine and a more conventional machine with a 125cc two-stroke.
Mengoli requested a sports version of the Rocca engine which was not satisfactory, and this led to legal proceedings to the expense of both firms. In 1953 Mengoli went bankrupt, and the rights to the OHC machine were sold to to his friend Angelo Zanasi who began construction of his Meteora motorcycles the same year.
Mengoli was back in the saddle quite promptly with a new brand name, Moto Emilia. This appeared at the Milan Fair of 1953 with four models - a 125 Turismo, and 175 Turismo, Sport and Super Sport. The venture was not a success and production ceased in 1954 (or possibly '55).
Sources: Museo del Patrimonio Industriale, Bologna; MC Storico Conti; et al.
N.B. Gianluigi Mengoli, who joined Ducati in 1966 as a young man, does not appear to be related to this marque.
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