Round Up

ROUND UP

JOE PARKHURST

THE BULK OF motorcycle advertising goes pretty well unnoticed most of the time. An occasional departure is really noteworthy-like our newest American art form, the poster.

The refreshing, innovative Husqvarna poster shown here won a recent International print competition, consisting of 110 submissions from ten countries. Titled the “New Motorcycle Generation,” the poster shows a Husky rider in a familiar attitude. Long time CYCLE WORLD readers will remember a similar scene, photographed by motorcycle camera artist Larry Willett, on the cover of the May ’69 issue. It was a Husky also, ridden by yours truly.

BENELLI OF ITALY GOES AMERICAN

The Wall Street Journal reports that Benelli of Italy has sold 85 percent of its stock to Rowan Industries in New Jersey. Benelli had been largely owned by Alejandro de Tomaso, one of its directors. The purchase of his stock places the U.S. firm in control of Benelli. de Tomaso is married to Isabelle Haskell, whose late father owned the Rowan company. Rowan bought the de Tomaso car building firm some time ago, and then purchased Ghia and Vignate, the two leading Italian automobile body building firms. The goal was to obtain design and production facilities for the Ford engined Pantera. The Ford Motor Company owns the Rowan automotive interest.

Later de Tomaso acquired Benelli, the news of which sent our office prognosticators off on a wild fantasy that showed Benelli bikes sitting in every Ford showroom in the country. Mr. de Tomaso and his associates will own 50 percent of Rowan through a stock exchange.

Recently, a member of the Bond/ Parkhurst editorial staff visited the de Tomaso factory and got a glimpse of the yet to be announced 750cc Benelli six-cylinder bike. It was sitting alongside several Panteras being prepared for racing. No photos please...sorry.

JAPANESE SALES DECLINE

Ward’s Automotive Reports has cited an interesting turn in motorcycle statistics during the first few months of sales reporting for 1972. Japanese bikes imported during the same period in

1971 amounted to 276,160. The number for 1972 is 265,009, a drop of 4.0 percent in bikes imported. This was the first drop in total sales in more than three years. The drop does not, of course, reflect a decline in the industry, because this cannot be determined until full reports are in for the year. This information will not be available until early 1973.

Japanese imports dropped from a record 254,654 in the same reporting period in 1971 to 223,1 19 for the first two months of 1972, a decrease of 12.4 percent. In 1 97 2, Japanese bikes accounted for 92.2 percent of total sales for the year. The current figure for

1972 shows 84.2 percent. Most of the declines were in the under 290cc group. Wards reports that the general concensus is that most riders who are beginners are becoming more aware of nonJapanese machines. They reason that many who learned on Japanese machines have moved up to larger displacement bikes of Japanese manufacturer, and that this accounts for the over 290cc market holding its own.

Spanish built machines also showed a slight decline during the same period. Competing countries showed moderate to excellent gains, according to Wards. Reasons given ranged from the revaluation of the yen to an attempt to broaden the time span when motorcycles are imported. Importers have always had a lopsided import schedule, captitalizing on big selling seasons in the Spring and Summer. Indications are the Japanese firms will begin spreading out their shipments, according to Wards.

All companies report sales remain strong and 1972 will probably be another record year. Sales in some areas are up as much as 60 percent over last year. Wards closed with the remark that additional figures, as they become available, will show if there is a trend away from Japanese makes—highly unlikely in my estimation.