1961 Ceccato 125 4T GTS
With Phil Aynsley
Ceccato was founded by Pietro Ceccato in 1934 after he won the Italian Championship on a Rudge. Pietro was a qualified doctor who was working as a pharmacist before turning his hand to making motorcycles.
![1961 Ceccato 125 4T GTS](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-553-1024x589.jpg)
The company he founded had first manufactured industrial items such as hydraulic lifts, air compressors and service station equipment.
![Ceccato 125](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-560-1024x685.jpg)
After World War II, in response to a need for affordable transport for the masses, Ceccato started producing 38 cc two-stroke clip-on engines for bicycles and later small-capacity motorcycles – one of which you see here. The 1961 Ceccato 125 4T GTS.
![Ceccato 125](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-556-683x1024.jpg)
Ten years before this machine Ceccato produced their first proper motorcycle, a 75 cc two-stroke. This sold alongside a 49 cc two-stroke moped. In the years that followed Ceccato also released 100, 125 and then a 175 cc machine. The machine featured in the images here is a 125 cc model from 1961.
![Ceccato 125](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-557-683x1024.jpg)
Later models included a 175 cc 4-stroke production racer and a 200 cc horizontal parallel-twin.
![Ceccato 125](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-558-672x1024.jpg)
The factory employed over 700 people by the mid ‘50s.
![Ceccato 125](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-559-1024x696.jpg)
The company ceased motorcycle production in 1961 but has gone on to become the world’s largest producer of car and train washing equipment.
![Ceccato 125](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-555_1-1024x683.jpg)
![Ceccato 125](https://www.mcnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1951-Ceccato-75-Sport-2-stroke-PA-554-1024x724.jpg)