9-7-26 Update: A whopping thirteen years later and Rod M. has tipped me off that this Ercole is back up for sale. It’s a little cosmetically worse for wear and it doesn’t run anymore, hopefully it just needs a carb clean/battery/fluids? Amusingly (at least to me), the seller includes a screenshot of the old Bike-urious post from over a decade ago, noting that it’s how he found the bike for sale. Maybe we can help the next owner get it this time around as well…so find it for sale in Arlington, Texas for $7,500 here on Facebook Marketplace.
Post-Sale Update: After 40 bids, this Moto Guzzi Ercole sold for $12,759.
The Moto Guzzi Ercole (Italian for Hercules) is a fantastic vintage three-wheeler typically used as a shop/farm runabout. Able to carry nearly a ton, this bike truly earned its’ nickname. On either side of the rider there are fold out seats, upping capacity to 3 total individuals, and the bed works hydraulically.
Hercules is powered by a 500cc OHV 4 stroke thumper, with a 5-speed transmission that also included a reverse gear. Incredibly, the transmission was not sequential! Rather, you shifted it like a car, in a H-pattern (see the photo below). The ignition was by magneto, and the payload was an impressive 1800 pounds. This giant hunk of metal was able to get up to 35 mph, but just barely. Some of these bikes got an accessory cab made by an Italian firm named Ariasi, which came with doors and an interesting fabric roof, somewhat like today’s Fiat 500 – though the Ercole has a metal lattice framework.
This specific Moto Guzzi Ercole has the Ariasi cabin, a kick starter, and cable actuated brakes. The seller claims it is probably the only one of its actual model in the US, and we have no reason to disagree with that. It has served the last several years as part of a fleet of ‘picture vehicles’ for use in entertainment like TV and movies, and it’s registered as a motorcycle.
Find this Moto Guzzi Ercole for sale here on eBay with bidding up to $3,605 and the reserve not yet met in Tarzana, California.
Like the little Hercules, but want one without the cabin? Reader James V. just tipped us on the above ’57 Moto Guzzi Ercole for sale in Pescadero, California on the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club classifieds site for $6,000.