7 replies to this topic

[Nanni Dietrich]

The FB-Mondial produced high-quality sporting motorcycles in the 1940s and 50s. FB was the acronym of "Fratelli Boselli", an Italian noble family.

The FB-Mondial motorcycles grabbed four World Championship title in the 125cc class in 1949/50/51 and 57, and one in the 250cc class, in 1957.

In a number of articles by old magazines and newspapers, old books etc. the bikes were indicated as Mondial either as FB-Mondial.
I would think that this is similar to Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz. All the motorsport community knows that the make is Mercedes-Benz, but the cars are universally named simply Mercedes. Possibly the same happened for FB-Mondial and Mondial, in my opinion. Mondial (and Mercedes) is not a brand name, but simply a sort of "nickname" for FB-Mondial (and Mercedes-Benz).

The bikes were marketed as FB Mondial in the 1950s, as shown by the logo here
http://www.mototype....3707/fb_mondial
but at a certain point in time they started to call it simply Mondial. The logo also changed as shown in the same page.

Do you know WHEN the changing happened?

By the end of 1957 Count Boselli decided to withdraw the FB-Mondial team from the World Championship, as did Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta and Gilera. But the production went on. In my knowledge, the company failed in 1979, and several years later a new "Mondial Moto" re-started manufactoring bikes named Mondial.

[Rennmax]

Fine bikes indeed, even Soichiro Honda purchased one in '57

[Bjorn Kjer]

When Fratelli Boselli retired the FB Mondial works team in October 1957 , he did it with the other Italiansa of Gilera , Guzzi both finding the the cost of running such teams did not stand up to downgoing sales. Mick wallett does not mention FB Mondial and Mondial as 2 companies , but it looks like late 1957 could be it . A picture I have of W.Villa on a 250
"works" Mondial at an Italian championship race has on Mondial in the loge !

[Rennmax]

Methinks Francesco Villa, brother of Walter, was the Mondial rider

[Bjorn Kjer]

I am just passing on Mick Walkers words. Both Villas were involved in Mondials late comings in the mid sixties , but F. took the 250 with him to Montesa , and W.Villa later then turned to Mondials 125.

[Rennmax]

Have just found this

http://thevintagent....re-mondial.html

Nevertheless, also Walter Villa seems to have gained Italian championships in the 125 class from 66-68, though I'm not sure if this bike was still a genuine Mondial from the fifties or a forerunner of the Villa production racer. Anyone knows ?

BTW, never take Mick Walker's books too seriously, at least the 'German racing motorcyles' book has plenty of errors IMO...

Edited by Rennmax, 19 February 2011 - 07:17.

[Marticelli]

There is a very fine book on the subject of Mondials in English and Italian by Gianni Perrone and Jolanda Croesi. Called 'Mondial- Rimettersi in Moto' or 'Mondial - The History', it is a wonderful production, full of period pictures of their racing exploits and also listing every race success they had, which covers pages of an Annex at the back of the book.

I bought my copy from a now defunct bookshiop in Vienna, and I paid about 50 Euros for it, but there are a few copies in the US on Amazon if anyone wants one. Recommended reading!!

Marticelli

[GD66]

[quote name='Rennmax' date='Feb 18 2011, 10:10' post='4852137'

Nevertheless, also Walter Villa seems to have gained Italian championships in the 125 class from 66-68, though I'm not sure if this bike was still a genuine Mondial from the fifties or a forerunner of the Villa production racer. Anyone knows ? [/quote]



No, it was a horizontal watercooled two-stroke single. They also produced a natty aircooled twin.