This is a short blog relating to a 1965-66 advertising brochure
produced by the company.
Cosmopolitan Motors Inc. were based at Hatboro, Pennsylvania
just north of Philadelphia. They were one of the oldest and largest motorcycle
distributors in the US, with a network dealership second to none. At this time
they were importers of many different Italian made motorcycles and the brochure
listed here gives the extent of their range for that year.
On the font
cover is shown the works Benelli 250cc 4 cyclinder Grand Prix road racer. This
is listed as a 150mph, 7 speed racing motorcycle that was constructed at a cost
of $70,000.
The
motorcycles shown within were made by:- Benelli
Capriolo
Parilla
A total of
13 No. motorcycles are listed for sale and are all lightweight machines of
250cc or under. Many are of
the scrambler type favoured by the US market at this time and powered by both
4stroke and 2stroke engines.
The
following pages give you an insight of what was on offer:-
In 1957
Cosmopolitan took over as US importers of Moto Parilla. These were high
performance machines and very soon had gained an enviable reputation both in
scrambling and road racing. Cosmopolitan were instrumental in the concept and
supplying of the 250cc Wildcat Scrambler for their home market and also offered
tuning kits to increase power still further.
They were
also bang up to date with the technology of the time, a ‘Solid State
Smith-Corona Computer’ being used for parts ordering and invoicing. It is nice to
note that a Mid-West eddy current dynamometer was also available for racing and
experimental work, that should get the red greyhound up to speed.
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| Moto Parilla pen-knife |