The Great Guzzi Buy-Out of 1991
The great Guzzi buy-out of 1991
THE 199l MODEL YEAR WILL bring something truly different for Moto Guzzi lovers. Not only will there be three Guzzis not seen before in America, but they will be brought here by an all-new firm.
The name of the new U.S. distribution company is Guzzi America, and it is headquartered in Lillington, North Carolina. The company is owned in three equal parts by Fran Contaldi. former general manager of Moto Guzzi North America; Mark Macek, former national warranty manager for Moto Guzzi: and Eric and Emily Phillippe. owners of Midway Cycle in Lillington.
The quartet bought U.S. distribution rights for the Moto Guzzi line, along with existing stocks of bikes and spares, from company owner Alejandro De Tomaso for an undisclosed amount of money, said by Contaldi, though, to be "in the low millions."
Contaldi, whose title will be president and general manager, said the new firm's shipment of '91 models was scheduled to be sent from Italy to Guzzi America immediately upon close of the deal January 28. These new bikes will be the SPIII, a sport-tourer; the 1000S. a sort of retro-styled LeMans 1000/V7 Sport; and the much anticipated 1000 Daytona. also known as the Dr. John Replica. U.S. prices have not yet been set on any of the three. Contaldi said Guzzi America is showing about I 50 unsold 1990 models on its inventory lists, and that shipment of the new bikes, to consist of about 40 of each model, "is as much for the company’s credibility as it is for sales volume.”
The change in ownership of Moto Guzzi's American distribution arm caps an era which saw the company acquired in 1979 by Italian auto magnate De Tomaso, owner of Maserati. Since 1982, the line has been distributed in the U.S. through Maserati Automobiles Inc., and has about 100 low-volume dealers. Contaldi said the company last year sold about 195 bikes in the U.S. and expects to sell that number again in 1991. But he sees potential, he said, for sales of up to 500 units annually within three years.
Contaldi, who has been involved with Moto Guzzi at Maserati for three years, said the move was made because “It’s been quite frustrating to be working for this most prestigious marque, but at a company that’s not involved in the motorcycle business. The new company's business will be only motorcycles."
George Garbutt, executive vice president of Maserati Automobiles, said, "It's a move dictated basically by Mr. De Tomaso in Italy. He thinks both companies will do better separately." —Jon F. Thompson
