1975 Itom 50 Astor 6 M
1975 Itom 50 Astor 6 M
Last of the sports mopeds
Itom – the acronym stood for “Industria Torinese Meccanica” – was founded in 1948 with factories on via Francesco Millio in Turin. The little factory’s first products were motorized bicycles powered by 48cc two stroke engines. But by the mid-1950s, the company was building lively little sports 50 and 65cc motorcycles.
Lively Perfornner
Fitted with a nifty little head fairing, a 50cc Itom could carry its youthful rider at a heady 60 mph, given a favorable stretch of road and a tail-wind.
Racing Bike In Miniature
Like its contemporaries – Peripoli, Italjet and Malaguti – the Itom was a real racing bike in miniature, with a long dual-seat, dropped handlebars and big fuel tank. It had pedals to comply with the law defining mopeds (which in many European countries could be ridden without taking a driving test), but it was the answer to many a teen-aged Walter Mitty’s dream. These little machines became more powerful and faster, and the number of speeds in their gearbox increased in proportion. They were also good-looking and fun, and they inevitably caught the eye of the Italian government. In 1959, the the speed of such machines were limited to 25 mph; three years later the French followed suit. Some companies went out of business; others, like Itom, became assemblers, no longer making their own engines but buying in proprietary units from Franco Morini or Minarelli, with power ratings limited by law to 1.5 hp.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 50cc (39×42mm) air-cooled Minarelli inclined single-cylinder
Power Rating: 1.35 hp @ 4,200 rpm
Valves: two-stroke
Fuel System: Dell’Orto carburetor
Transmission: 6-speed left-hand selector pedal; chain final drive
Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swing arm (rear)
Brakes: 7 inch hub drums (front & rear)
Wheels: 2.25×18 inch (front & rear)
Weight: 138 lb
Maximum Speed: 28 mph
This was Itom’s swan song. Despite the obligatory pedaling gear, the Astor 6 M was an attractive little machine, also available as the 6 MC (motocross) and 6 MCR (trials).
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