1979 Laverda 497cc Montjuic Mk1
Registration no. XJG 466V
Frame no. LAV500*2677
Engine no. 2677
•           Imported by Slater Brothers
•           Present ownership for 17 years
•           Used sparingly
•           Recently recommissioned 

In 1978 a Laverda Formula 500 racer was imported by the UK Laverda concessionaire, Roger Slater, the man largely responsible for the Jota, who believed that a 'civilised' café racer had greater sales potential than the rather lacklustre and expensive Alpino from which the Formula 500 had been derived. Slater retained the stock Alpino fuel tank but equipped his new baby with a bikini fairing and solo racing seat, manufactured in the UK by Screen & Plastics. Finished in 'Jota Orange', the new model was named 'Montjuic' in honour of Laverda's race victories at the eponymous Spanish circuit, while a loud, matt black, megaphone exhaust system further enhanced the racing connection. Focused on performance to the exclusion of almost everything else, the Montjuic was defiantly 'hard core' at a time when motorcycles were becoming ever more refined. No wonder it was so popular. 

This Montjuic was acquired in 2006 by the current vendor but has seen only limited use as he has been working abroad. The machine comes with a letter from former importers Slater Laverda confirming that '2677' was imported on 19th July 1979 on Moto Laverda's consignment note '591', allocated to Geoff Daryn based in Sandwich Bay, Kent, who sold and registered it as 'XJG 466V' on 4th August 1979. The vendor had the bodywork professionally resprayed in 2007. Shortly after that the late Mike Waugh (of marque specialists Montydons) did some work on this Montjuic and took it for a road test. We are advised that he was very complimentary about the machine stating that it was also quick. The Montjuic has been taken to Mallory Park for the 'Festival of 1,000 Bikes' on a number of occasions (tags still attached) and was recommissioned by Andy Bartlett in time for the 2022 Festival, most of the work being carried out during September and October 2021 (list of works on file). Additional documentation includes numerous invoices; a quantity of old MoTs and tax discs; and copy of old and current V5Cs. Keys present.
Footnotes:
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