World War II left Italy’s economy and infrastructure in disarray, and so began the rise of two-wheeled transportation that helped revitalize this nation. One company, Gilera, became known for producing affordable scooters and motorcycles for the masses, but in 1946 it began production on its most exceptional model to date: the Saturno.
This 500cc single cylinder machine was not your average daily rider, but a very sporty motorcycle that rivaled the famous Norton Manx and BSA Gold Star. It bristled with innovations. Its transmission and primary drive were all sealed in a unit construction engine which also held an oil sump, filter and pump. Additionally, there were no oil lines as the engine used internal galleries. The engine was part of the stress frame which improved the rigidity of the chassis and improved the bike’s handling by lowering its center of gravity.
This particular Gilera Saturno was originally purchased by the Chesta Brothers from Marcelo’s hometown in Los Surgentes, Argentina in 1948. As a young boy growing up, Marcelo would see the Chesta brothers drive by on the dirt roads around our family farm. Almost 40 years later, during one of Marcelo’s several trips to his hometown, a close friend, Luis, would always tell him about this bike. Luis informed Marcelo that the original owners would still fire and run the motorcycle through town every so often.
The chase was on! Marcelo tracked down Pitin Chesta and there began a 3-year negotiation for the bike. Finally in 2003, Pitin and Marcelo came to an agreement and the Saturno was his. The restoration that followed was another 2-year project led by Marcelo’s second cousin. After restoration was complete, the Saturno was imported to the United States and found its home in Marcelo’s living room.
 |
 |
In 2012, we received a phone call from the organizers of the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. They mentioned to us that they had learned of our Saturno and wanted to exhibit the motorcycle in their show. After the extensive application process and verification of legitimacy, Marcelo and the Saturno made the trek to Pebble Beach, CA. The Saturno showed incredibly and earned a Bronze Medal in its class, an incredible honor for a bike with an incredible history!
It’s the very history of this motorcycle that inspired us to make it forever part of MotoDoffo’s story by featuring the Saturno on the 2016 Super Tinto Label. On April 8, 2018, we welcomed motorcycle artist, Makoto Endo, to the winery for a very special live painting event. With the Argentina Grand Prix running in the background, Makoto applied ink to a white canvas to create his own unique rendition of Marcelo’s Gilera Saturno. This original artwork is immortalized on the 2016 MotoDoffo Super Tinto label, and is sure to be a collector’s piece for years to come.
You can see Marcelo’s Gilera Saturno and Makoto Endo’s original artwork in the MotoBarrel Room at Doffo Winery.