Harley-Davidson, long before the Baggers: the glory years with Aermacchi and "the Reverend"

In 2026 the Harley-Davidson brand will once again be linked to the World Championship thanks to the new Bagger World Cup. The “once again” is no accident: the American company was once part of the World Championship, even if its history there was very brief and tied to Aermacchi, the now-defunct brand from Schiranna (Varese). The union of these two historic names, together with Modena native Walter Villa, a mechanic who later emerged as a rider, brought no fewer than four world titles in the 1970s! Those who have loved engines for a long time will surely remember… But let’s go over the key points of this story.

In the 19th century, Giovanni and Agostino Macchi founded a company making carriages and horse-drawn omnibuses, called Fratelli Macchi. This was the “embryonic” phase; official status would only come much later, in the 20th century with the heirs of the two brothers, specifically in 1913. Before that, in 1905, came the Società Anonima Fratelli Macchi - Carrozzeria, Automobili e Ruotificio, followed by a joint venture with a French company that led to the creation of Società Anonima Nieuport-Macchi. It was the period of World War I, and inevitably there was military involvement through to the end of the conflict: the Varese company worked on aircraft, later used for civil purposes, while the company name was shortened to Aeronautica Macchi, eventually becoming the name that concerns us, namely Aermacchi. Alongside aircraft there were also three-wheelers, and in the 1950s they turned to two-wheelers as well, some of which would go on to rewrite speed records: among the bikes we recall the futuristic Chimera, from which the “Ala” model series would derive. One of these, the Ala d’Oro, was destined for world-level racing. But to reach the top of the world more was needed and, alas, not under the original name…

In 1960 a joint venture with the historic Milwaukee company led to the formation of Aermacchi Harley-Davidson S.p.A., based in Milan. Although technical and product decisions were taken mostly by the Americans. The 350 in particular was strongly pushed by management across the ocean for the U.S. market, which was no longer satisfied with the 250. But let’s proceed in order and focus on racing: the World Championship debut came in 1960 with the Ala d’Oro 250, under the Italian name, and the first points already arrived thanks to Alberto Pagani (son of world champion Nello) and his 5th place at Spa. Over the years the effort doubled, the 350 was also targeted and with Gilberto Milani came the first points in the 1963 Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring. The years passed and more interesting results arrived: podiums stood out with Carruthers, Findlay, Steenson and Milani in 1969 in 125cc, 350cc and 500cc. But we must wait until the mid-1970s for the apotheosis, by which time the commercial brand was already AMF-Harley-Davidson.

The nickname will be well known to longtime enthusiasts. Walter Villa, noted for his calm demeanor and ability to always find a compromise in case of disputes, was certainly no rookie in the World Championship. Immersed in engines from a very young age and a leading figure especially on the Italian scene, he debuted in what is now the World Championship in 1967, albeit without major results. We have to move forward a few years… Unfortunately to the tragedy at the 1973 Nations GP, given that Renzo Pasolini was also racing with Harley-Davidson in 250 and had logged a 3rd place at the season opener in France. Walter Villa, one of the riders involved in the very serious accident, was then racing with Yamaha, and only the following year did his story with the U.S. brand begin, which continued to rely on Aermacchi’s racing department. It would be the choice of a lifetime for the Modena rider: in the 1974–1976 three-year span he claimed three consecutive 250cc world titles, also bringing two constructors’ crowns to Harley-Davidson in 1975 and 1975. His story was enriched in 1976 with the 350cc world title. A historic comet: four riders’ championships plus two constructors’ titles for the pairing of the Reverend and the Italo-American marque.

The term comet is no coincidence. For Walter Villa there would be no more major peaks, aside from a few podiums, and for Harley-Davidson these would be the only truly significant moments in its history before soon leaving the world championship adventure. Aermacchi as a brand had already disappeared in the 1970s and, with Japanese manufacturers arriving in Europe, Harley-Davidson had to face a severe commercial crisis, followed by various ownership changes. The aforementioned AMF-Harley-Davidson ended production in Italy in 1978; from its ashes Cagiva would be born, founded by the Castiglioni brothers. But some trace of “Aermacchi” remained, albeit outside motorcycles: the “aeronautical side” in fact was merged in 2012 into Alenia Aeronautica, becoming Alenia Aermacchi, with descendants of the original Macchi founders among the management. The company and the historic name disappeared for good in 2015: absorbed by what was then Finmeccanica, later Leonardo-Finmeccanica, and finally since 2017 Leonardo S.p.A., an international industrial group in the Aerospace, Defense & Security sector.