By the late 1960s, things were looking rough for Benelli and its sister company, MotoBi. Banks had cut off credit, suppliers were losing patience, and their product catalogue was tired and old-fashioned.

50cc Sales Surge

While Benelli faced challenging times, the market for 50cc bikes grew rapidly. Domestic production of 50cc minis, racers, and scramblers was up 17.5% by the first half of 1969 and exports improved by 70%.

Early prototypes

Benelli tried to capitalize on the demand for 50cc bikes, unveiling the Sprint 5V prototype with electronic ignition, radial head and 5-speed gearbox at the 1969 Milan Motor Show. Unfortunately, the prototype was overlooked as Benelli struggled to survive.

The Tomaso years

Fortunes improved in 1971 when Alejandro de Tomaso bought Benelli. A bold and determined leader, de Tomaso rarely took advice from anyone, regardless of its merit. He had a clear vision for the iconic Marchigiano brand and wasted no time setting Benelli on a new course. He tasked Piero Prampolini, Benelli’s Technical Director, with creating small, single-cylinder, two-stroke machines for the growing youth market.

Radically new

One of Prampolini’s first creations was the ‘Turismo,’ a prototype of the T50 unveiled at the 1971 Milan Motor Show. Not merely a refined version of the Sprint 5V, the T50 incorporated an entirely new frame, a two-tone fuel tank in the style of the Tornado 650, and the innovative Sprint engine that Prampolini had improved by adding reinforcement between the cooling fins on the cylinder head. Unfortunately the Sprint’s electronic ignition had been dropped.

Eye-catching design

Two years after the Turismo’s debut, Tomaso hired Paolo Martin then head of Pininfarina’s styling department to give Benelli’s lineup a fresh look and the T50 was born. A modern reimagining of its predecessor, the T50’s eye-catching design featured a streamlined tank and short angular saddle, giving the moped a compact, sporty appearance. Meticulously built, the T50 didn’t just look like a small motorcycle—it handled like one, thanks to the sturdy closed double cradle frame, Marzocchi front forks and the same radial-head engine and 5-speed gearbox used on the Turismo prototype.

Dutch importer Eysink launched the Benelli T50 in 1973, backed by an aggressive advertising offensive. Including a photoshoot with rising motorbike racer Wil Hartog who became the first Dutchman to win a 500cc Grand Prix. Over the next five years, they released two notable dealer upgrades that added new features and re-styled the bike’s appearance.