Ducati started importing in what year?

[ducman491]

I was talking to a guy who restores British bikes and I started to wonder what year ducati started importing bikes to the US. He has a customer that owes him some money and is paying his debt with an old Ducati 125. He claims to have owned it from new. What was the dealer network like in the 60's? Was this a gray market type thing? Thanks

[F1 Miami]

Probably not, but Ian Falloon's book has all kinds of data in it, that should tell you definitively.

[ducman491]

Thanks for the help. I forgot about Mr. Falloon.

[mh900e0974]

around 700BC in the etruscan period, i believe.

[corse955]

In 1959, Ducati's first year with the Berliner brothers, the factory's goal for American sales was about 700 bikes. The Berliners sold 2,000, and in the second full year they sold 3,000.

From DUCATI by Jon F. Thompson and Joe Bonnello.

There probably were a few imported before that, but not very many.

Courtney