One of the rarest
According to Canadian Biker (CNDBKR), “Built for just two seasons (until a bodywork overhaul by Leopoldo Tartarini of Italjet in 1973), the Silver Shotgun has become one of the rarest of the Desmo singles…. Very few Ducati Silver Shotguns were built. Though intended for the US market, few were imported before the ban on fibreglass gas tanks. A dealer dispute at about the same time also restricted distribution, though some found their way to Canada.”
The term “Desmo” in the name refers to Ducati’s unique desmodromic valve system. This system uses cams to both open and close the valves, as opposed to traditional spring-based systems where the valves rely on springs to close. This technology, pioneered by Ducati, results in improved engine performance and is a hallmark of the brand.
Auction on ebay ends of Oct 15
$17,500 OBO
Seller
Guaranteed authentic, legitimate, rare and highly sought after 1971 Ducati 250 Desmo Silver Shotgun has been totally restored and is probably one of the finest examples around.Original stamped frame number 250GT102846 with original engine number DM250115118 which was totally rebuilt.
Clear New Hampshire title in my name. It has a complete and beautiful restoration using as many new old stock parts as could be found. The front fender is an original with original silver metalflake paint and while the other fiberglass parts are original, they were re-painted but the flake is not as heavy.
There is NOT a spot of rust or flaws on it except a crack in the glass in the original Veglia tachometer and a chip on a sump fin. New old stock Veglia speedometer shows 2 miles. Everything else is stunning.
I only took it out once and then drained the gas tank and just had it There is nothing to apologize for on this fantastic and rare bike and with only a handful still around, will continue to escalate in value.
This is the history of this Silver Shotgun as I got it from Phil Hitchcock of Road and Race Motorcycle Engineering in Australia. This authentic Ducati 250 Desmo Silver Shotgun was originally an Australian delivered bike that Phil bought from the original owner when it was 12 months old. Phil sold it years later to a local to fund racing a TZ Yamaha and Phil bought it back years later from a different person. Phil then sold it to a friend in the local Ducati club who then sold it to Rich Lambrects of DesmoPro when he was in Australia for one of the GP’s. Rich sold it in 2005 or 2006 to Chris Jensen of New Jersey who I purchased it from.
RSBFS
This bike makes me want to start drinking coffee again.
I love how the Italians decide to do silver. They make it metallic flake and clear coat it so that in daylight you get the effect of a disco ball. Now that’s a statement.
While researching the model I realized that we have never reviewed one of these particular bikes on RSBFS, so that’s a first. I also realized that this guy Fritz kept coming up. He and his Shotgun were interviewed multiple times, making me think that there are not very many of these around to report on.
According to Fritz in this Motorcycle Classics interview , What’s the Ducati Silver Shotgun like to ride? “It’s wonderful,” says Fritz. “It’s really nice. The better chassis and stronger forks make a big difference over the earlier bikes. The 450cc engine is nice, too.”
For the Italian bike lovers:
I went down the rabbit hole while researching this model and found an amazing article on Rider Magazine titled “Silver Shotgun: Italian Motorcycle Design of the 1070s” by Rider Magazine. The article is about an exhibit in 2021 at the Petersen Automotive Museum. (Note to self: whenever traveling to LA, be sure to check the exhibition schedule at the Petersen museum – then go anyway.) The photos from the exhibit are amazing. And my favorite quote from the article is more about Italian design than this particular bike – so I apologize but the designer in me can’t resist. “An unlikely trajectory led Italy to lead the world in design, as the country arrived late to the industrial development party. It leapfrogged the rest of Europe aesthetically with the 1909 publication of the “Manifesto of Futurism” by Filippo Marinetti, a manically radical tract celebrating all things mechanical, noisy and fast as the essence of modernity.“
Mechanical, noisy and fast. What else do you want?
Good luck to the buyer and seller!
–LL
..wait, what did I miss???
“ The 450cc engine is nice, too.”
Michael J, possibly a reference to riding a 450 as opposed to a 250, the 350 is my pick.
It’s interesting how miths evolve, ‘The Silver Shotgun’ was an epithet used in a freelance article by the owner, published in an Australian Motorcycle Magazine. The article was about a 450, not a 250 or a 350 as is aurthoritatively stated right left and centre by all sorts of self professed experts but all of the above have been labelled as such since. I think the silver flake could also have red or green instead of a clear finish
I distinctly remember the comments in that article describing the Pirelli tyres, very little grip in the wet whether braking or accelerating.
@Michael J – Thanks for mentioning this. My brain did have a reaction when I read that, but then my desire to post a new listing for everyone to enjoy over-ran the blip. So now I’m confused and have to go back to the article. The Silver Shotgun does seem to have some mystery surrounding it. -LL
Quite a bit of rust on some of the fasteners, suggesting a life lived in damp circumstances.
I’m being picky, but for this kind of money one reserves the right to be picky.
Lovely bikes, if a little on the small side if you measure over 5 f t 9 inches.
Handling was astonishing for the day, and the bevel motors are lovely things. Bear in mind it’s over half a century out of date.
Starting procedure is very last century, but this bike is another for the glass case I fear.
Ducati’s claim of the first desmodromic motorcycle is just as spurious as their claim of the first motorcycle equiped with a single cylinder overhead cam bevel drive engine.
Damlier-Benz patented the desmo valve system in 1889 later used by many manufacturers with varying degrees of succes.
Velocette overhead cam bevel drive singles were winning at The Isle of Mann in 1926 and 1928 followed by a long history of successes with the design which was also used in the Norton Internationals and Manx’s.