THE SPECIALIST
Enthusiasts for the various marques and models of Italian motorcycles can often find clubs or more loosely organised groups for those who share their passions. Offering a broader church, the UK’s Vintage Motor Cycle Club has many owners of Italian bikes among its membership. Pasquale Mesto is the club’s Benelli specialist and our thanks to him for showing us the road to Tornado restoration.
■ The Vintage Motor Cycle Club: 01283 540557; www.vmcc.net
MODEL HISTORY
By the mid-1960s, and like many of its competitors, Benelli was well established with a range of lightweight machines. With an eye on the lucrative American market, where British machinery dominated, the company’s ambitions extended to building an alternative.
The initial effort appeared in 1967, a prototype,