Moto Parilla S.p.A. of Milan, Italy was founded in 1946 by Giovanni Parrilla (1912—1968), and specialized in the production of two-stroke and four-stroke, 50cc to 350cc motorcycles, three-wheelers, and industrial generators between 1946 and 1965.
Moto Parilla introduced the 4-stroke, 175cc chain-driven OHC "high-cam" (camme rialzata) engine in 1953, produced 20hp, and used in the Parilla GS (Gran Sports), Lusso Veloce, MSDS, Speedster, Sport Speciale, and Wildcat Scrambler. Displacement in later versions was increased to 200cc and 250cc, utilizing a gear-driven cam. Parrilla based the design of his first high-cam racers on the Norton Manx.
1957 Moto Parilla Sport 150 2-Stroke
In 1957, Cosmopolitan Motors of Philadelphia took over the USA distribution of Moto Parilla, From Parilla, bringing along Italian racer Guiseppe Rottigni, who introduced Italian road-racing to the United States.
1959 Moto Parilla Sport Speciale 175
Moto Parilla also produced a line of mopeds, which included the Greyhound, Olimpia (originally named the "Impala'), and the futuristic looking Slughi, which looked strikingly similar to the Aermacchi Chimera 250 Scooter. During the 1950s, Husqvarna used Parilla's Greyhound chassis in their scooters.
1959 Moto Parilla Olimpia 125
Parilla two-stroke models included the Bracco, Sport, and Turismo Speciale which came with 125cc to 150cc powerplants, and the Boxer (distinguished by its 'boxy' looking crankcase), which came with a 250cc motor. Parilla 2-strokes were produced between 1950 and 1957.
The only four-stroke twins that Parilla produced were the Setter, and Veltro Turismo, which came with 25occ to 350cc powerplants, built between 1953, and 1961.
Moto Parilla ceased operations in 1962, and the company assets were liquidated to a holding company which folded in the recession of 1967. The Parrilla family went on to build go-kart engines.
Moto Parilla Links
Moto Parilla North America
Cosmopolitan Motors History
Parilla High-Cam Information and Restoration
Moto Parilla Spares
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