Vehicle Description
Founded in Bergamo, Italy, in 1906 by Achille Rumi, Fonderie
Officine Rumi began as a specialist manufacturer of cast components
for machinery used in the Textile industry. Achille's son, Donnino,
an artist at heart, took the reins of the company in the interwar
years, and under his leadership became known for their high-quality
bronze casting. This reputation helped earned them the patronage of
the Italian Navy, and by WWII, were producing armaments, miniature
submarines and torpedoes, propellers, and periscopes for the war.
In the face of postwar posterity, Donnino saw the success of
scooter brands like Vespa and, with technical direction from Luigi
Salmaggi, began designing scooters and motorcycles under the
company's new name: Moto RUMI. Their new motorcycles were based on
a lightweight aluminum chassis with a traditional tube backbone,
but the downtubes were replaced by a 125cc two-stroke parallel-twin
engine and four-speed transmission as a stressed member, with
telescopic or Earles front forks, chain drive, and swing axle rear
suspension. After just one year of development, the first
production motorcycle was shown at the 1950 Bergamo Cycle and
Motorcycle Exhibition and Milan Motorcycle Exhibition to much
public acclaim. By 1953, Luigi Salmaggi was appointed as RUMI's
technical manager and given the task of replacing the company's
first racing motorcycle, the Competition SS52 "Gobbetto", and
designed the Donnino-styled Junior Corsa which was produced from
1955 to 1959. This Junior Corsa is a "Bicarbuatore" (Twin
Carburetor) from the beginning of the estimated 300 units produced
and finished in Rosso Corsa with the horizontally mounted
two-stroke engine and four-speed transmission are polished aluminum
and sit under the fuel tank and seat. With the tops of the
cylinders facing the front wheel, fuel is supplied by twin
Dell'Orto carburetors, while the exhaust exits through short, black
painted undermount trumpets. The plexiglass wind deflector presents
well with minor, superficial scratching, while the front fairing,
front telescoping forks, front and rear splash guards, rear
trailing arm, twin Standard shocks and springs, and the kickstand,
all show very minimal wear. The highlight of any Moto RUMI is the
fuel tank, 18 liters in the case of the Junior, also finished in
Rossa Corsa, features prominent gloss black accenting, outlined in
gold with the "Land, Sea, and Air" logo finished in silver with
"RUMI" in red lettering. The seating surfaces are trimmed in black
leather while the top and standard-for-the-Corsa chest pad are
black suede to provide better grip while racing. Controls are
minimal, as expected with a racing motorcycle, with front and rear
brake handles operating the drums, the throttle on the right-side
grip, and a CEV Model 8018 lighting and engine-off combination
switch on the left-side grip. The Junior Corsa became a highlight
of niche Italian motorcycle history in part due to the two-stroke
engine's unique and raspy exhaust note and construction, but what
created the mystique of Moto RUMI was the agility the motorcycles
possessed. They were road course motorcycles that succeeded in
technical maneuverability instead of raw power output. This is a
prime example of a correct Junior Corsa and will be at home among
its contemporaries in any discerning collection. Offers welcome and
Trades Considered For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7749-1955-moto-rumi-junior-corsa/
