Aermacchi four-stroke · 1967–c. 1972
Aermacchi Ala Blu 250: buying advice
The gentle tourer of the Ala family. Rare, simple and a fine European counterpart to the American Sprint.
History
The Ala Blu came out in 1967 as the 250 cc tourer from Aermacchi-Harley-Davidson in Varese. It replaced the Ala Azzurra, the gentle low-compression touring version. The Ala Verde was its sporty brother. All Ala models go back to the horizontal single that Alfredo Bianchi designed in the 1950s for the Chimera.
Sources disagree on the production years. German Wikipedia (based on the book Aermacchi by Mick Walker, 1995) gives 1967–1970. CyberMotorcycle and the Dutch dealer Yesterdays give 1967–1972.
According to CyberMotorcycle, the Ala Blu differs from the American Sprint by lacking the big American air filter, and by its European exhaust and a dashboard with two instruments and warning lamps. It uses the Ala Azzurra engine. CyberMotorcycle thinks some Ala Blus were built from parts still in stock.
Versions
Ala Blu Turismo: with a four-speed box, built for about a year (1967). According to CyberMotorcycle and Yesterdays only about 27 were made. Ala Blu GT: almost the same, but with a five-speed box; about 700 to just over 725 built.
German Wikipedia sees it differently: there the GT is a sportier version with higher bars, and the five-speed box only came in 1970. Sources also differ on wheel size (17 inch according to Wikipedia; 19 front and 18 rear according to CyberMotorcycle). The difference may depend on the year.
Key data
| Engine | Single cylinder, four-stroke, horizontal, pushrod OHV, air-cooled |
|---|---|
| Bore × stroke | 66 × 72 mm, 246 cc |
| Power | 13.7 hp at 6500 rpm (German Wikipedia) or 18 hp at 6750 rpm (Yesterdays, GT) |
| Compression | 7:1 or 8.5:1 (sources differ) |
| Carburettor | Dell'Orto 22 or 24 mm (sources differ) |
| Gears | 4 (Turismo) or 5 (GT), wet clutch |
| Tank | 17 litres |
| Electrics | 6 volt |
| Weight and top speed | no reliable source found |
Known weak points
Little has been written specifically about the Ala Blu. What follows applies to the horizontal Aermacchi single in general (Sprint, Ala Verde).
Starting can be difficult, especially when hot. The 6-volt lighting is weak; check generator, regulator and wiring. Exhaust bends can rust through. The heel-and-toe gear lever limits lean angle in corners. Older Alas often have replacement engines and wrong decals (for example five-speed decals on a four-speed engine).
Because so few Turismos were built, it is wise to check a so-called “Turismo” extra carefully. That advice is ours, not from a source.
What to check when buying
- Check the frame and engine numbers against the papers. A replacement engine is more common on Alas.
- Count the gears: is it a 4-speed (Turismo) or 5-speed (GT)? Does that match the decals and the papers?
- Start the engine cold and hot and listen for ticking or rattling.
- Look for rust in the exhaust bends and wear on sprockets and chain.
- Test the lights and the charging of the 6-volt system.
- Check completeness: the Ala Blu dashboard, lamps and trim are hard to find.
Parts and prices
The engineering and many engine parts are the same as on the Ala Verde and the Sprint, and those are still reasonably available. There are reproduction exhausts that fit the 250 Ala Verde, Ala Blu and GT of 1967–1972, and contact points for the Ala Blu GT. Specific Ala Blu parts such as lenses, trim and cables are hard to find.
Prices: real market data for the Ala Blu hardly exists. Autobelle.it gives an archive value of €2,300, but says itself that it is not current (year unknown). For comparison: a restored 1962 Ala Verde 250 was offered in the Netherlands in April 2026 for £6,300. Because of its rarity a good, original Ala Blu will not be far off, but that is an estimate.
Prices are indications from the sources and years named. Real value depends heavily on condition, originality and papers.
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