The Benelli 500 Quattro was the first of the four-cylinder models with which Alejandro de Tomaso tried to take on Honda in the early 1970s. Styled by Ghia, it used an engine closely inspired by the Honda CB500 Four, made 55 hp and was replaced in 1980 by the 654.
Benelli 500 Quattro at a glance
| Maker | Benelli, Pesaro; engines assembled at Moto Guzzi, Mandello del Lario |
|---|---|
| Production | 1974–1979 |
| Engine | four-cylinder OHC, air-cooled |
| Capacity | 500 cc |
| Claimed power | 55 hp; 49 hp in the 500 LS |
| Top speed | 180 km/h; about 175 km/h for the LS |
| Frame | steel, shared with the 750 Sei |
| Front brake | drum; twin discs on the 500 LS |
| Styling | Ghia (Paolo Martin) |
| Gearbox | five-speed |
| Replaced by | Benelli 654 |
The 500 Quattro is described in a section of the Italian Wikipedia article on the Benelli Quattro series (one detailed source).
History of the Benelli 500 Quattro
De Tomaso’s four-cylinder plan
At the beginning of the 1970s the Italian motorcycle market was split between off-road machines and large multi-cylinder models, a field dominated by Honda’s four-cylinders. De Tomaso, who had taken over Benelli in 1971 and Moto Guzzi in 1972, wanted to compete there. To save time he bought a Honda CB500 Four and ordered the Pesaro engineers to take inspiration from its engine; the styling was given to Ghia and Vignale, both owned by De Tomaso. The programme produced a 500 cc four, from which a 350 four and a 750 six were derived; the 500 and 750 were to be Benellis and the 350 a Moto Guzzi. Sales began in spring 1974, with engines assembled at Mandello del Lario and fitted to bikes built at Pesaro.
The 500 and its versions
The 500 Quattro was designed by Ghia’s Paolo Martin and praised by the magazine Motociclismo in May 1974 as “grintosa e poderosa di aspetto”. Its frame was solid and rigid and shared with the 750 Sei, while at the front it still used a drum brake, by then out of fashion. The engine was very similar to Honda’s but more powerful: 55 hp and 180 km/h against about 170 km/h for the Japanese four. The gearbox was rough and neutral was hard to find.
In 1977 came the 500 LS (Leggera Sportiva): less powerful at 49 hp but more flexible, with more torque and a top speed of about 175 km/h. It used the styling of the Moto Guzzi GTS, which saved 10 kg, kept the four exhausts and added a twin-disc front brake. In 1979 Benelli presented the 504 Sport, identical to the 350 sister apart from its red instead of black paint.
Commercial failure
The 500 family sold poorly and was replaced by the new 654, presented at the Milan show in 1979 and on sale from the beginning of 1980.
Design and features
- Honda-inspired four: a close copy of the CB500 Four layout, with more power.
- Ghia styling: bodywork by Paolo Martin, praised by the Italian press.
- Strong frame: the same chassis as the six-cylinder 750 Sei.
- LS version: more torque and twin front discs.
Benelli 500 Quattro versions
- 500 Quattro (1974–1977): 55 hp, drum front brake.
- 500 LS (1977): Leggera Sportiva, 49 hp, more torque, twin front discs.
- 504 Sport (1979): red version shared with the 350.
The 500 was replaced by the 654, and its six-cylinder relative is described in the 750 Sei article. More Benelli models are in the Benelli collection.
Sources
- Benelli Quattro, Italian Wikipedia: 500/504 section, versions, performance
- Benelli, English Wikipedia: company background
