The Moto Major 350 and the Postwar Dream of Radical Motorcycle Design
Postwar Reverie - The years following World War II were filled with a strange mix of exhaustion and optimism. Factories that once served military needs began searching for new identities, and engineers were suddenly free to imagine objects meant not for survival, but for living. In that brief, hopeful window, some of the most unconventional machines ever conceived took shape. One of them was the Moto Major 350, a motorcycle born from postwar ambition and creative freedom, and one that still feels remarkably alive in today’s design-driven era.
The vintage-styled 1947 Moto Major 350 prototype still enchanting until today. (Picture from: MotoRiderUniverse)
Unveiled in 1947, the Moto Major 350 immediately stood apart from conventional motorcycles of its time. Designed by Turin-based engineer Salvatore Maiorca, the bike ignored exposed mechanical honesty and instead embraced flowing form. Its silhouette placed it in the same visual conversation as rare experimental machines likethe Killinger & Freund from 1938 or Louis Lucien Lepoix’s customized BMW R12, yet the Moto Major carried a personality entirely its own—more organic, more daring, and unmistakably futuristic.
The 1947 Moto Major 350 is voted as the Best of Show Motorcycles at the Concorso Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2018. (Picture from: TheVintagent)
The origins of this motorcycle are closely tied to Aeritalia, an aerospace company based in Turin and a subsidiary of Fiat. Developed inside Aeritalia’s aerodynamic research facilities, the Moto Major was fully funded as an experimental project, reflecting Fiat’s curiosity about entering the two-wheeled market. This was not Fiat’s first flirtation with motorcycles; a decade earlier, it had explored scooter concepts that predated models like Piaggio’s MP5 Paperino. The Moto Major, however, pushed far beyond experimentation and into radical design philosophy.
From every angle, the Moto Major is stunning and compelling. The sole prototype remains in original and unrestored condition.(Picture from: TheVintagent)
What continues to enchant enthusiasts decades later is its bodywork, which feels less engineered and more sculpted. The steel shell wraps almost the entire motorcycle, leaving only the wheels, headlamp, and handlebars visible. Its form has often been compared to marine life, with smooth, cephalopod-like curves and intricate detailing. Even the silencer resembles a flattened fishtail, reinforcing the organic theme while creating a visual balance rarely seen in motorcycles, vintage or modern.
A cutaway view of the 350 single-cylinder Moto Major, showing the steering system, inline single-cylinder motor, shaft drive, and fuel tank under the saddle.(Picture from: TheVintagent)
Beneath the dramatic exterior lies equally unconventional engineering. The Moto Major 350 used a vertically oriented, liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine, with two radiators discreetly integrated into the fairing and fed by airflow from the front. Controls were partially concealed, with a hand shifter emerging through the bodywork, while the handlebars remained exposed, creating a subtle tension between enclosure and rider connection.
The Moto Major has twin fishtail exhausts hide a secret with only one side is functional, another one is a dummy for aesthetic balance purposes only.(Picture from: TheVintagent)
The exhaust layout added another layer of visual theater. Twin fishtail outlets extended from the rear, even though the 350 cc version technically required only one exhaust pipe. The second was purely decorative, included solely to preserve symmetry. This decision perfectly captured the philosophy behind the Moto Major—engineering logic existed, but it willingly bowed to aesthetics when necessary.
The handlebars move in a slot in the bodywork, between the speedometer and a steering damper knob.(Picture from: TheVintagent)
Perhaps the most advanced idea was hidden within the wheels themselves. The body functioned as a self-supporting monocoque hull, allowing the fairing to sit extremely close to the wheels. Suspension was not placed between the chassis and wheels, but inside the wheels, between the rims and hubs. Maiorca adapted concepts he had previously explored in aircraft design, reviving the almost-forgotten idea of elastic wheels and pushing motorcycle engineering into uncharted territory.
The Moto Major’s in-wheel suspension uses 12 compressed rubber disc per wheel for suspension, to provide a nominal 50cm of travel.(Picture from: TheVintagent)
Despite the excitement it generated—including a planned collaboration with Pirelli and a sensational public appearance at the 1948 Milan Salon—the Moto Major 350
never entered production. Costs, complexity, and shifting priorities
quietly ended the dream. Today, the sole surviving example rests with the Hockenheim Museum Archive, preserved rather than restored due to its delicate and irreplaceable components. Its recognition as Best of Show Motorcycle at the 2018 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este confirmed what many already felt: the Moto Major 350 is not just a relic, but a timeless expression of how bold imagination can outlast the era that created it.
Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops.... *** [EKA [07032020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE VINTAGENT | BIKEEXIF | MOTORIDERSUNIVERSE ]
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The Moto Major 350 and the Postwar Dream of Radical Motorcycle Design
Perhaps the most advanced idea was hidden within the wheels themselves. The body functioned as a self-supporting monocoque hull, allowing the fairing to sit extremely close to the wheels. Suspension was not placed between the chassis and wheels, but inside the wheels, between the rims and hubs. Maiorca adapted concepts he had previously explored in aircraft design, reviving the almost-forgotten idea of elastic wheels and pushing motorcycle engineering into uncharted territory.
Despite the excitement it generated—including a planned collaboration with Pirelli and a sensational public appearance at the 1948 Milan Salon—the Moto Major 350
never entered production. Costs, complexity, and shifting priorities
quietly ended the dream. Today, the sole surviving example rests with the Hockenheim Museum Archive, preserved rather than restored due to its delicate and irreplaceable components. Its recognition as Best of Show Motorcycle at the 2018 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este confirmed what many already felt: the Moto Major 350 is not just a relic, but a timeless expression of how bold imagination can outlast the era that created it. 
