About Us
Italian Iron Classics, LLC was created from a passion for motor racing that started for me as a child growing up in Edinburgh, Scotland. In the 1960’s and 70’s, I learned at an early age about how Scots and Brits generally were making a mark on the world stage. I idolized racers such as Mike Hailwood, Jackie Stewert, Paul Smart, John Surtees, Peter Williams, Geoff Duke, and Phil Read, to name a few. These racers for a wee laddie in the 60’s held the same significance and awe as the new musical sensation that had just arrived on the scene, a group called the Beatles. Motor Racing, Football (Soccer), the Beatles, Thunderball and the original Dr. Who were all contributing factors that formed my childhood.
Fast forward to the 1980’s now living in the US and having the blessing of financial opportunity. Remembering a time when all I could do was to dream about motorcycles and racing, and now being able to do something about it. I started with Norton Singles and Twins, but because of my height, the bikes just never fit me well. Then I was introduced to a Ducati 750 GT and that was the start of a life-long love affair with the Ducati brand. The Ducati passion for racing resonates through the design of their bikes. The balanced torque of the big twin engine in a bike that inspires confidence is a potent package. Since then I have been hooked on the growl of the big twins and the raucous, violent note of a high compression bevel drive or F1 engine. The experience is something both primordial and intimidating while remaining truly exhilarating.
I have been blessed with the bikes that have been a part of my stable. After the Ducati 750 GT, I found a Paul Smart Replica Bevel Drive 750 that, once refined, was published in the 2001 Encyclopedia of Motorcycles when Mick Walker was General Editor. Uniquely, I have restored two 1972 Ducati 750 bevel drive “Z” Stripe Sports that were authenticated by Mr. Walker and featured in his books. Those bikes are in a museum and in a private collection, respectively. I have always had a special affinity for the orange-yellow Ducati Sports and the 1972 Ducati “Z” Stripe Sport in particular. Numerically, one could argue that the “Z” Stripe Sport is more rare than the famous 1974 Ducati 750ss round case and is the epitome of Italian design.
Part of my passion is expressed in bike design and race replicas. I cannot seem to leave anything alone and, as such, have been fortunate to “improve” upon the paint scheme of the early 851 Tri-Colore and updated the power plant with a 996 engine. The result was a success and the finished product is now in the capable hands of an architect who is also making his childhood dreams a reality. I have campaigned a Ducati 750ss in AHRMA events and my latest bevel racer is a copy of the Bruno Spaggiari Team racer of the 1970’s. I recently completed the restoration of a Mike Hailwood Replica, which is another bike where Italian passion in design defiantly made a distinctive mark on the motorcycle world.