TAURUS

500 G27 Sport - 1936

High-tech from the 1930s

Germanic in appearance and luxuriously equipped, the Taurus 500 offered original and sophisticated technology. The unit-constructed engine, designed by Vittorio Guerzoni, combined all the "must haves" of the day: an overhead-camshaft driven by shaft-and-bevel and exposed valve springs.

Super Sport Version

Alongside this twin-port Sport version, claimed to be capable of over 70 mph, Taurus added a single-port Super Sport, whose top speed was said – no doubt optimistically – to be 93 mph.

Ingenious Rear Suspension

All the models were offered with the option of rear suspension and the choice of a special carburetor and an auxiliary oil tank. The rear end of the rigid triangulated swing arm which replaced the forged-steel arm of previous years) slid in curved guides with two easily-adjustable friction dampers. Springing was taken care of by multiple element torsion bars, acting as a pivot for the suspension arm. Though the Milan-based company was founded in 1901, Taurus didn't turn to motorcycle production until 1933, working in conjunction with Guerzoni, famed for his Mignon engines. From 1933 through 1939, Taurus – also known as MG-Taurus – built overhead-valve and overhead-cam 250s and overhead-cam 500s. The latter were replaced in 1938 by the overhead-valve 500 TN and the TS, with a chain-driven twin-cam 500 engine. After WWII, Taurus made 50cc machines, followed by 160cc two-strokes and 200cc four-strokes, before going out of business in 1966.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 499cc (85x88 mm) Taurus unit-constructed air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke; Bosch Magdyno ignition

Valves: shaft-and-bevel-driven overhead-camshaft; hairpin valve springs

Fuel System: Amal carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: girder forks (front); torsion bar sprung swing arm (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 3.25x19 inch (front & rear)

Maximum Speed: 93 mph

Luxuriously finished and equipped, the Taurus incorporated a tank-top instrument panel complete with fuel gauge, ammeter and clock.