Rare and Unrestored 1974 Ducati 750SS Was Once a Part of Guy Webster’s Collection

The tale has been told time and time again, with Fabio Taglioni arriving at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari for the inaugural Imola 200 race that year. He was accompanied by seven purpose-built machines ready to hit the track, and two of those would go on to make history.

With the help of legendary racers Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari, Ducati walked away from that event with a one-two finish people still talk about five decades later. Smart led the charge to the checkered flag while a 40-year-old Spaggiari followed closely behind, marking one of the key moments in the Italian brand’s racing chronicles.

As a matter of fact, this victory is what put Ducati on the map as a serious motorsport contender, so all the fanfare surrounding it makes perfect sense. The manufacturer took the opportunity to capitalize on the whole affair commercially, too – not once, but twice. Most recently, it happened with the special-edition Paul Smart 1000 LE, of which a mere 2,000 copies have been produced.

We’re here to talk about the first instance, though, and this one occurred all the way back in ‘74. Following their success at Imola, Ducati decided to put what was essentially a street-legal race replica into production, that model being none other than the 750 Super Sport. Only 401 units were initially made, flaunting the iconic green frames and round-case, bevel gear-driven motors they quickly became known for.

Their 748cc desmodromic L-twins were good for up to 70 hp at 9,000 rpm, while dry weight stayed incredibly low at just 180 kilograms (397 lbs). With sturdy disc brakes and Marzocchi suspension added to the equation, Ducati's exotic offering was as close as you could get to a race bike for the street!

As a fun fact, you may hear people referring to an early Super Sport as Green Frame, which is a nickname these machines got for obvious reasons. Most collectors will have no problem with spending a small fortune on one such specimen in our day and age, but finding one for sale is a very rare occurrence. Hypothetically speaking, you would therefore have quite a bit of trouble getting a 750SS Green Frame even if you had cash to burn.

Still, a man by the name of Peter Boggia might be able to help. He’s the driving force behind Moto Borgotaro from Brooklyn, New York City, and classic European motorcycles are his specialty. Peter is particularly fond of machines produced in Italy, but the marque he’ll most often deal with is Ducati. Now, we’re really not exaggerating when we say this man has bought and sold some of the raddest Bolognese collectibles in existence.

Among them, there was an all-original 900 NCR just like the one ridden by Mike Hailwood at the Isle of Man TT in 1978, as well as one of the only eight Imola race bikes (yes, really). It should therefore go without saying that Moto Borgotaro operates on a slightly different level than the regular motorcycle dealership in your town.

At the time of this article, the latest offering on the firm’s website is an unrestored 1974 Ducati 750 Super Sport. Not only is it one of just 401 specimens of its kind, but it also comes from the sizeable collection of the late Guy Webster. After an extremely successful career, the renowned photographer sadly passed away in 2019 aged 79, so his motorcycles began finding their way into new owners’ hands.

This 750SS shows a little over 17,800 kilometers (11k miles) on the odo and is said to have been rigorously maintained and ridden regularly. The silver paintwork from the factory has faded over time, gaining a pistachio green hue we just can’t get enough of. In the four years since Guy Webster’s passing, this Italian rarity was taken care of by a loving owner who is now preparing to let it go.

Peter states that as many as 90 percent of the parts are original, so it really doesn’t get much better than this. I mean, sure, the vintage Duc may not be in perfect condition, but we honestly think it looks just as good at the very least. We’ve got some bad news if you were hoping to find out any pricing information on this relic, though.

No such details are available on Moto Borgotaro’s official website, and they will only be provided on request. In any case, it’s reasonable to assume we’re talking about six digits here, with past sales data around the web indicating just that. If you happen to be a millionaire or something along these lines, make sure you get in touch with Peter before this 750SS gets away. Oh, and also: congratulations! How’s the weather up there?