Moto Parilla
Moto Parilla was founded in Milan in 1946 by Giovanni Parrilla.
He was born in Spain and emigrated to Southern Italy during the Second World War. He started to manufacture motorcycles in his small workshop specializing in the repair of diesel injectors and pumps. He went on to produce an array of small displacement scooters, mopeds and motorcycles. He changed the spelling of his name to one "r" for his motorcycle marque. Rather than build inexpensive two-strokes to power the populace in the days following World War II, Parrilla created a full-bore, thoroughbred 250cc overhead-cam racer that was soon rivaling Moto Guzzi for the checkered flag. By 1954, Parilla's racer was the High Cam 175cc MSDS, also known as the Grand Sport.
Moto Parilla produced a series of factory made production race bikes for sale through their importers/main dealers. From the late 40’s the factory entered machines in road race events within Italy. From the series of “town” races where roads were shut for a days circuit racing to the 24 hour linear races such as the “Milan – Taranto” & the week long “Motogiro D’Italia” endurance events. All these events were very important to home sales but were virtually unheard of abroad.
In the USA, from the late 50s, some competition bikes were imported & these along with the Giro winner rider Rottigni started to make some impact on the racing scene. This ended in the mid 60s with the Parilla being one of the “winningest” marques in the small capacity classes.
In the UK there appears to have been little activity other than a dabble in Scrambling with the 250 Wildcat & the odd well-connected Gentleman Racer lucky enough to garner an ex-factory racer. Maurice Cann is known to have raced a 250 Parilla in the UK, our contributor Richard Morley is the only known UK Moto Parilla International racer of the period. As racing in any market is usually entered into by an importer as a means of publicity & increasing sales the marque was at a distinct disadvantage in the UK as all imports were subject to 33% import duty. Even if they won everything in sight it would have been unlikely that anyone would buy a 175 MSDS when they could have a 500 Triumph or Norton for the same price. Production competition models as opposed to “works” versions started with the “Competizione” which was equipped with 17″ & 18″ wheels with the front being mounted into Earles type leading link forks.
The first version was soon followed by a more conventional looking model which more closely resembled the road bikes. This bike had a telescopic fork with conventional 19″ wheel sizes.Whilst looking very similar to the Turismo many parts are unique to the model from the frame to the large fuel tank which is cut away on the underside to clear the cylinder head & allow a lower mounting to be employed thus allowing a racing crouch for the “pilota”. Again a 500xxx number was used for frame & engine moving to 501xxx as production grew
This series of production racers, or MSDS as they were known in Europe (Machina Sport Derivata dalla Serie) continued using the same frame as the earlier model but with a different tank & seat unit. They continued to employ a massive “cigar” silencer in some markets, straight pipes or the “silenced” mega in others. Most of these bikes were 501xxx series numbers.
The final version of the MSDS had a different “diamond” frame, tank, seat & toolboxes from the earlier models Some would say they are the most handsome version of all the bikes & are not quite as hard to find as the earlier types…or should I say not impossible to find. These versions carry the 501xxx series number.
The standard 500/501xxx series engines were equipped with chain driven cams but some were fitted with all gear drive systems. Hard to tell from the outside. These last versions of the MSDS/GS shared a frame with the more mundane 175 & 250 models. Often referred to as the “Tourist” frame due to its use on that 250 model which was a big seller in the USA…& unknown in Europe along with other 250 models such as the Wildcat & Trailmaster. In the UK a series of special 170xxx 175cc MSDS machines were imported with gear cam drive, CR gearbox & X1 cam. Two complete machines exist in the UK & an engine is reported to exist in Italy. If there are other survivors of this series their whereabouts are not known.
Before the first true hi-cam “Production Racers” were produced by Moto Parilla – the MSDS series – one model rose above the “Turismo Speciale” ride-to-work specification. In 1954 the 175 “Sport” was introduced. It shared many cycle parts of the TS with an upgraded engine & racing style carburettor being the main difference. The 192mm brakes & large capacity tank of the TS are particularly suited to the Sport with the result that the Sport is often mistaken for a TS until the series number becomes evident – they are the first 500xxx series machines.
Credit and more information: http://www.motoparilla.co.uk
