1974 Ducati 750 GT & Sport

With Phil Aynsley

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Some idea of the importance of the Australian market to Ducati in the 1970s (it was in fact the company’s largest export market for most of the decade), can be seen in these two 750 models.

1978 Ducati 750 GT Australian special

1978 Ducati 750 GT Australian special

While at first glance they look like a normal 1974 GT and Sport they are in fact 1978 ‘models’ constructed from spare parts by the factory at the request of the Australian importer – Frasers.

1978 Ducati 750 Sport Australian special

1978 Ducati 750 Sport Australian special

At the time the recently released 860 GT was seen by the market as a backwards step from the 750 GT (at least aesthetically), which had ceased production in 1974, and there was no Sport equivalent available with the “square case” motor.

The 1978 Ducati 750 GT proved a racing success in the Superbike class in Australia

1978 Ducati 750 GT Australian special

The 750 GT had proved to be very successful first step into the Superbike class with Australian sales rising from 33 upon introduction in ’71, to 151 in ’72, 202 in ’73 and 396 in ’74. The 860 GT’s figures were 181 in ’74, 270 in ’75 and 244 (including 14 GTEs) in ’76 – quite a drop from the “round case” 750.

1978 Ducati 750 GT

1978 Ducati 750 GT

There were only a few differences between the ’78 and ’74 GT models. The later bikes used the same CEV switch gear as the ’78 SS and had the newer “double line” Ducati logo stencilled on the rear of the seat. A total of 41 were imported.

1978 Ducati 750 Sport

1978 Ducati 750 Sport

1978 Ducati 750 Sport

The 22 ’78 750 Sports built had even less changes. Some had slightly different switch-gear fitted but they were basically identical to the earlier versions.

1978 Ducati 750 Sport

1978 Ducati 750 Sport

1978 Ducati 750 Sport

1978 Ducati 750 Sport

1978 Ducati 750 Sport
Source: MCNews.com.au