When Mecum’s Monterey 2026 auction opens the bidding on a pair of historic Ducatis, collectors will have a chance to compete for two motorcycles that helped define the brand’s modern identity. Offered as consecutive lots, the 1972 Ducati 750 Imola Racer (Lot R28) and the 1974 Ducati 750SS Green Frame (Lot R27) represent both the competition success and road-going evolution of Ducati’s legendary 750cc L-Twin platform.
Few motorcycles can claim to have changed the trajectory of an entire company. The 1972 Ducati 750 Imola Racer is one of them.
According to documentation provided with the motorcycle, this machine is one of just eight factory-built Imola racers and one of only seven transported by Ducati to compete in the inaugural Imola 200 Miles race in 1972. The event would become one of the most important moments in Ducati history when Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari delivered a stunning first-and-second-place finish against larger and better-funded competition.
What makes this particular example especially noteworthy is its reported originality. Ducati historian Ian Falloon inspected and authenticated the motorcycle, stating it is believed to be one of the most original surviving examples in existence, surpassed only by Paul Smart’s winning machine now housed in Ducati’s museum in Bologna.
Falloon’s records indicate this motorcycle was one of two bikes assigned to Smart during the race weekend. It remains one of only three surviving examples retaining its original engine cases and reportedly still wears its original fairing, fuel tank, seat, and tail section. Remarkably, the bike has never been crashed, modified, or significantly altered.
The Ducati spent three years on display at the Museo Ducati in Bologna and was also exhibited at Germany’s Nürburgring Rennsport Museum during the 1990s. Documentation includes restoration records, historical photographs, technical notes, and two separate authentication reports from Falloon.
Powered by a 748cc L-Twin paired with a five-speed gearbox, the Imola racer represents the machine that established Ducati’s sporting reputation on the international stage.
If the Imola racer symbolizes Ducati’s breakthrough moment, the accompanying 1974 Ducati 750SS Green Frame represents the direct production descendant that followed.
Widely considered one of the most desirable production Ducatis ever built, the 750 Super Sport was developed from lessons learned during the Imola campaign. The Green Frame models have become icons among collectors, with just 401 examples produced during the 1974 model year.
This example stands apart due to its preservation. Falloon reports it is one of approximately ten surviving motorcycles worldwide that remain in such original, low-mileage condition. Showing just 10,841 kilometers, the motorcycle remains unrestored and retains its original paint.
The 748cc L-Twin engine, five-speed transmission, chain final drive, spoke wheels, and signature green frame remain intact, while extensive mechanical servicing has reportedly been performed to preserve functionality. The brakes have been rebuilt, the engine has been serviced, and original documentation from the first two owners accompanies the sale.
Together, these two motorcycles tell the story of Ducati’s rise from ambitious manufacturer to performance icon. One represents the machine that conquered Imola and reshaped the company’s future. The other brought that racing success to the street in a package that has become one of the most coveted collector motorcycles in the world.
For serious Ducati enthusiasts, opportunities to acquire either machine are exceedingly rare. Seeing both cross the block at the same auction may be a once-in-a-generation event.
Visit our website to register to bid, consign your vehicle and browse all consignments. The Mecum Monterey Auction takes place August 13-15 in beautiful Monterey, California.
Shawn Henry