MV Agusta's classic four-cylinder dominated Grand Prix racing for a
decade from 1956. When it was replaced by the new triple in 1966, Count
Agusta decided to make the Four available in limited numbers as a
production bike. To prevent privateers converting it into a Grand Prix
racer that might embarrass the factory, he stipulated it should be 600cc
and have shaft final drive. The touring 600 eventually evolved into the
750 Sport and GT, and finally the America, but MV Fours were always
built in extremely small numbers. As befits an engine that handed
multiple World Championships to John Surtees, Gary Hocking, and Mike
Hailwood, the technical specification was staggering, and remains so to
this day. This magnificent engine was always at the heart of the MV
Agusta, and it was this engine that created and sustained the legend.
One of the world's foremost motorcycle historians, Ian Falloon is the
author of several books on motorcycles, and has spent many years as a
regular contributor to a number of motorcycle magazines worldwide,
specialising in Italian marques, particularly Ducati, Moto Guzzi,
Laverda, and of course, MV Agusta.