1974 Ducati 750SS

The 1974 Ducati 750SS is widely considered to be one of the most instantly-recognizable motorcycles of all time. Whether it’s because of the swooping front fairing, the eye-catching Azzurro frame, or the curved Conti mufflers, it’s truly an iconic piece of two-wheeled exotica. Even more important than its good looks, though, was the way that it altered the very course of Ducati’s history.That’s because, up until the 1970s, the Bologna-based firm was all but a non-presence in the industry. That all changed come 1972, when race fans finally had the opportunity to watch the best of the best battle it out at the inaugural Imola 200. Competitors lined the grid on bikes representing everyone from Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta to BSA and Triumph to Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki — each one a dominant presence at Daytona. With Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari leading the team, Ducati pulled off the seemingly impossible: a resounding 1-2 victory.To commemorate the performance, Ducati began selling its le