1952 Gilera 500 Saturno Corsa Twin Cam Klager Special
1952 Gilera 500 Saturno Corsa Twin Cam Klager Special
Home-brewed racer
This unique version of the famous Gilera Satumo Corsa has chain-driven twin overhead cam shafts instead of the original pushrod and rocker overhead-valve gear and was built by the well-known German rider-tuner Fritz Kluger. He was originally from Frisbourg Breisgau, in Schauinsland, the scene of Gennany’s most important hill-climb.
Keen Tuner
Klager, always ready to improve the performance of famous racing bikes, acquired the final model of the Gilera Saturno Corsa, with swing arm rear suspension, built from 1952.
Long Career
He fitted it with twin overhead-camshafts driven by chain. This boosted the peak power rating from 38 to 45 hp, while the rev limit went up by an astounding 2000 rpm. At the same time, Gilera had developed their own twin-cam head, with the camshafts operated by a train of pinions. The unique works racer made its debut in 1953 at the Manx Grand Prix, ridden by Harry Voice but without notable success – Voice retired after that race. Kluger, on the contrary, rode his home-built twin-cam Gilera for many years, winning many events. Eventually this machine was acquired by the famed Swiss restorer Paul Schneider – a Gilera specialist based at Meisterschwanden near Lake Hallwill. Schneider restored this rare model for his son-in-law, Richard Baur, to ride in vintage races such as the “Valvoline Austria Trophae” on the Osterreichring at Zeltweg in Austria, where the photograph was taken.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 498cc (84×90mm) air-cooled single cylinder four -stroke
Power Rating: 45 hp @ 8000 rpm
Valves: twin chain-driven overhead-camshafts
Fuel System: Dell’Orto SS 35 carburetor
Transmission: 4-speed, chain final drive
Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swing arm with vertical spring/dampers (rear)
Brakes: central drum (front & rear)
Wheels: wire-laced alloy rims
Weight: 276 lb
Maximum Speed: 125 mph
The Gilera Satumo Corsa “Klager Special, ” with its chain-driven overhead-camshafts, was more successful than the works version with gear-driven overhead-cams (inset).
Card number D2 78-19
Atlas Editions Classic Motorcycle cards are available for purchase.
