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 GD - 175 70 AL 2
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Photo ou archives : D. Ganneau
5912

Capacity : 175
Model : 70 AL 2
Production : 1931 -
Category : (R) Racing

GD

175cc 70 AL2 - 1931

Too little, too late...

GD had learned, with its CM two-stroke, the costly lesson that the new and dynamic 175 category was to be regarded as the territory of the four-strokes produced by Benelli, Bianchi, Mas, Miller, MM – and plenty of others. After the failure of the CM, the slate had to be wiped clean with a new model precisely to the modern taste.

A Tricky Task

The job seemed a tricky one since the firm 's founders had split up, but an overhead-valve 175 designed by Ubaldo Fangarezzi was nevertheless unveiled in 1929 as the "70 A". Its engine was based on the Zürcher. A sportier, more luxurious AS2 version was also available, and while the overhead-cam 70 B arrived in 1930; it proved a little too late.

Uncertain career

Correctly envisioned, but without any outstanding features and launched without any serious competition backup – in a time of uncertainty for the marque – the 175 was prematurely killed off when GD decided to halt motorcycle production in 1931. When production was resumed in 1935 at the instigation of Fangarezzi, it initially concentrated on utility tricycles, and it was on a 250 that the 175 design reappeared during 1938. It had undergone some fundamental modifications, like a wet sump and double-cradle frame. Unfortunately, WWII caused GD to be relegated to the role of subcontractor to the arms manufacturer Beretta, and motorcycle production had to be abandoned. After the war, GD devoted itself to manufacturing automats, slot machines, mixers and regulators for the food and chemical industries.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 172cc (58.5x64 mm) air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke; pressure lubrication; magneto ignition

Valves: overhead

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 3-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: girder forks (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 25x3.00 inch (front & rear)

Weight: 295 lb

Maximum Speed: 53 mph

With its twin exhausts and jazzy tank decoration, this 1931 AL2 is typical of the sporty deluxe versions of the 175 GD range, which failed to meet sales expectations.




Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.