Antietam Classic Cycle - Excellent service spanning tune-ups to restorations
Decals from John Prusnek - Very nicely produced decals you'll be proud to adhere
Relays from Dan Prunuske - Great product, great prices
MG Cycle - New Parts & Accessories for Moto Guzzis
Moto Guzzi Classics - Used and New Parts for Moto Guzzis plus excellent service
Stainless Cycle - Conveniently assembled and polished stainless fastener kits
Zydeco Racing - Top notch transmission & rear drive service at unbelievable pricing

Differences between V700, Ambassador, and Eldorado models

Updated: 2010 Mar 22

Like most things in life, these differences are not absolute. There was plenty of crossover as the models evolved and there are many exceptions. But, this can serve as a general guideline. Some of the photos and information came from Dave Otis' old website. I'm certain I missed something, so please contact me with any corrections, contributions, or additional photos: greg>at<thisoldtractor.com.

Special thanks to Mike Tiberio, Rob Prins, Newtin, Paul Linn, Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle, Gordon Kline of MG Cycle, and Sven Stepan for providing additional difference information.

	V7 / V700	Ambassador	Eldorado
Engine Case	3 shallower vertical ribs	most had 3 deeper vertical ribs plus additional diagonal rib running rearward from cylinder base very late had horizontal webbing	horizontal webbing
Bore	80 mm	83 mm	83 mm
Stroke	70 mm	70 mm	78 mm
Displacement	703.717 cc	757.486 cc	844.05 cc
Piston rings	4, 3 above wrist pin, 1 below	4, all above wrist pin	3, all above wrist pin
Valves	38 mm intake and 34 mm exhaust	40 mm intake and 35 mm exhaust	40 mm intake and 35 mm exhaust
Valve springs	Single	Dual	Dual
Compression Ratio	9:1	9:1	9.2:1
Maximum RPM	6000	6500	6500
Horsepower at maximum RPM (SAE)	50	60	64
Cylinder head exhaust port	No boss for future exhaust studs	Early models had no boss for future exhaust studs; later models had a boss for later exhaust studs	Most had no boss for future exhaust studs; Some had a boss for later exhaust studs
Cylinder head top stud	One piece design with o-ring	Early models had one piece design with o-ring; later models had two piece design with crush washer	Two piece design with crush washer
Valve covers	early models had "Moto Guzzi" printed below raised area, no ridge on raised area, longer hex-head securing bolts later models had "Moto Guzzi" printed on raised area, no ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts	"Moto Guzzi" printed on raised area, no ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts	early models had "Moto Guzzi" printed on raised area, no ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts later models had "Moto Guzzi" printed on raised area, ridge on raised area, shorter allen-head securing bolts
Gas tank - capacity	4.5 gallon	early models had 4.5 gallon late models had 5.84 gallon	5.84 gallon
Gas tank - petcock position	petcocks positioned forward	early models had petcocks positioned forward late models had petcocks positioned rearward	petcocks positioned rearward
Gas tank - tunnel width Thanks to Karl Kologiski for providing this difference information. Note: Wider tunnel tanks will fit on the earlier models. Narrow tunnel tanks will not fit on the later models.	narrow tunnel	early models had narrow tunnel late models had wider tunnel	wider tunnel
Gas cap	cap with lever, lever secured via special boss on tank	early civilian models had cap with lever, lever secured via special boss on tank later civilian models had a cap with a lever, lever secure via ring and groove on neck police models had a screw-on cap, taller neck	civilian models had a cap with a lever, lever secured via ring and groove on neck police models had a screw-on cap, taller neck
Front brakes	twin leading shoe	most had twin leading shoe some very late models had four leading shoe (circa 1977)	most had twin leading shoe some in 1973 had four leading shoe late 1973 and 1974 had single disk
Rake	27°	27°	27°
Trail	56.94 mm	81.94 mm	81.94 mm
Triple tree offset	90 mm	70 mm	70 mm
Transmission speeds	4 speed	4 speed	5 speed
Transmission gear ratios	1:2.230 1:1.333 1:0.954 1:0.750	1:2.230 1:1.333 1:0.954 1:0.750	1:2.000 1:1.388 1:1.047 1:0.869 1:0.750
Transmission case	Smooth	Smooth	Ribbed
Transmission gear design	Earliest all straight cut, middle first straight cut/second-fourth helically cut, latest all helically cut	All helically cut	All helically cut
Rear drive gearing	8/37	8/35	8/37
Rear drive case	Star burst, polished	Star burst, polished very late may have had the deeper sump, unpolished	Deeper sump, unpolished
Overall gear ratios (from engine through transmission to rear drive)	1:14.180 1:8.473 1:6.063 1:4.768	1:13.413 1:8.015 1:5.735 1:4.510	1:11.424 1:7.929 1:5.980 1:4.964 1:4.284
Carburetors	Dell’Orto SS1 29mm; later models had an intake liner to increase air flow velocity	Dell’Orto VHB 29mm	Dell’Orto VHB 29mm
Carburetor body to intake manifold clamps	Smooth polished aluminum band	Early models had smooth polished aluminum band later models had steel bands perpendicular to the carb body	Steel bands perpendicular to the carb body
Shifter design	Most had heel-toe, few had toe only	Most had heel-toe, few had toe only	Heel-toe
Shifter location	Right side, had a different bend to clear the swing arm nut	Left side	Left side
Rear brake design	Aluminum	Chrome plated steel	Chrome plated steel
Rear brake plate	Shaft at 12 o'clock, shoe pivot doubles as tie rod attachment point	Early had shaft at 12 o'clock, shoe pivot doubles as tie rod attachment point later had shaft at 3 o'clock	Shaft at 3 o'clock
Rear brake location	Left side	Right side	Right side
Shift pattern	1 up, 3 down	1 up, 3 down	1 up, 4 down
Headlight	Deep shell	Shallow shell	Shallow shell
Tail light	Very early models used an entirely unique tail light which is exceedingly rare. Photo courtesy of Sven StepanPhoto courtesy of Sven Stepan Photo courtesy of Sven StepanPhoto courtesy of Sven Stepan Photo courtesy of Sven StepanPhoto courtesy of Sven Stepan Later models had additional horizontal mount to the frame, round lens	Early models had additional horizontal mount to the frame, round lens Later models lacked additional mount, round lens	Early models lacked additional mount, round lens Later models had a rectangular lens
Instrument panel	Civilian models only had a speedometer See civilian and police variations here	Early civilian models only had a speedometer; later civilian models had speedometer and tachometer See civilian and police variations here	Civilian models had speedometer and tachometer See civilian and police variations here
Side covers	Narrow, non louvered	Early models had narrow, non louvered; later models had wider, louvered	Wider, louvered
Tool boxes	Knobs	Early models had knobs; later models had locks	Locks
Coil	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli; later models had Bosch	Bosch
Coil mount	Across the frame	In line with frame	In line with frame
Civilian frame	Narrower backbone (later tank will fit on earlier frame, but not vice versa)	Wider backbone	Wider backbone
Police frame (in addition to civilian frame differences)	Siren mount (mechanical sirens had different mounts than electrical - not sure of difference???), stronger gusset plate for seat, gusset plate drilled for rear crash bars, dimple in rear fender mount at the rearmost part of the frame	Siren mount (mechanical sirens had different mounts than electrical - not sure of difference???), stronger gusset plate for seat, gusset plate drilled for rear crash bars, dimple in rear fender mount at the rearmost part of the frame	Siren mount (mechanical sirens had different mounts than electrical - not sure of difference???), stronger gusset plate for seat, gusset plate drilled for rear crash bars, dimple in rear fender mount at the rearmost part of the frame
Generator	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli, later models had Bosch	Bosch
Generator covers	Two individual metal plates (most painted, there is some debate as to whether or not some were chromed)	Early models had two individual metal plates (most painted, there is some debate as to whether or not some were chromed) later models had a single black plastic cover	Single black plastic cover
Regulator	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli; later models had Bosch	Bosch
Starter	Magneti Marelli	Early models had Magneti Marelli; later models had Bosch	Bosch
Center stand	Short feet	Early models had short feet; later models had long curved feet	Long curved feet
Turn signals	None	None	Front and rear
Fender reflectors	None	Early models had none; later models has reflectors with wide chrome trim; some very late models had reflectors with very narrow trim	Early models had reflectors with wide chrome trim; later models had reflectors with very narrow trim
Fork covers / headlight ears	Shorter	Shorter	Shorter for all drum brake models. Disc brake models are longer.
Swing arm	Aluminum cap on the back end of the swing arm…just before the rear drive	Boss that could be drilled for aluminum cap	No boss.
Hand levers	Smooth lever with a perch that angled toward the handlebar	Early models used a smooth lever with a perch that angled toward the handlebar later models used a finger-grooved lever with a perch that was more square to the handlebar	Finger-grooved lever with a perch that was more square to the handlebar models with 4 leading shoe front brakes used a finger-grooved lever with a special adapter to connect both front brake cables
Shocks Thanks to Newtin for providing this difference information. Note: the shocks must be completely disassembled to remove the chrome cover; the plastic cover can be distorted to clear the tabs at the bottom of the shock body.	Early models had a black plastic inner cover to hide the rod later models used a chrome steel cover to hide the rod	Early models used a chrome steel cover to hide the rod later models had a black plastic inner cover to hide the rod	All used a black plastic inner cover to hide the rod