A unique and rare Italian Little-Ant scooter

Unique ONES - You may often see the appearance of this unique Italian classic scooter made by Moto Rumi of Fonderie Officine Rumi or the Rumi Foundries was formed at the beginning of the twentieth century (established by Gabrielle Rumi in Bergamo, Italy in 1906) and originally supplied cast components to the textile machinery industry.

1959 Rumi Formichino made by the Italian factory Rumi, the 1959 Bol d’Or with a 125cc two-stroke engine was the most sought after of the Formichino models and was the fastest scooter of its day, producing 8.5 bhp at 7,200 rpm. (Picture from: MotorcycleNews)

One of Gabrielle’s son, Donnino, began working at the foundry at the age of 12. His work was casting metal, but his passion was painting, drawing, and sculpture, at which he was gifted and classically trained. Donnino assumed management of the foundry in the 1920s, with art taking a back seat. During WWII, Donnino refused to work with the Germans, and fought (and was subsequently jailed) as a Partisan. Meanwhile his foundry churned out bronze propellers, anchors, torpedoes, and periscopes for submarines.

1954 Rumi Scoiattolo 125. (Picture from: Ruotedasogno)

After the war, Donnino returned to help rebuild the factory, concentrating on textile machinery and later starting made light motorcycles and scooters powered by the horizontal twin two stroke engine of 125 cc capacity. In 1952, with the popularity of scooters through its compatriot made scooters such Vespa and Lambretta, Moto Rumi decided to start manufacturing its owned scooter known as the Rumi Scoiattolo or (a squirrel in Italian).

Right side view of 1955 Rumi Formichino. (Picture from: LaneMotorMuseum)

The Scoiattolo has a cast aluminum monocoque body with tubular swinging arm rear suspension and teleforks with 14 inch wheels and three gears. Its subsequent models had a four speed gearbox and electric starter, at the time it was also reputed as the fastest scooters then in production.

Speedometer and odometer view of 1955 Rumi Formichino. (Picture from: LaneMotorMuseum)

Moto Rumi, a division of the Rumi Foundries that produced motorcycles and scooters, was only active from 1950-1960. While wildly popular on Italy’s strade, during this short span the factory also enjoyed numerous endurance and sprint racing victories, most notably the 24-Hour Bal d’Or at Montlhéry, France. All the Rumi bikes, both motorcycles and scooters, were based on their 125cc horizontal twin and some excellent engineering.

Rear side view of 1955 Rumi Formichino. (Picture from: LaneMotorMuseum)

The Rumi Formichino (a little ant in Italian) seen here is made up of only a few aluminum castings (as pointed to the company real expertise with metal). The engine is actually a structural member, part of the frameless monocoque, with the castings attached front and rear.

The 1954 Rumi Regolanta 125cc. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

This lightweight approach gave a decided performance advantage over the conventional steel-framed Vespas and Lambrettas on the Italian roads, and added to their appeal as well. It’s also a beautiful sculptural piece, both functional and fast. No wonder if they triumphed three-times at the Italian Speed Championships in 1957, 1958, and 1960.

The 1953 Rumi Huchback 125cc. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

After Piaggio Vespa upped their game, so Moto Rumi was unable to compete anymore. And then they ceased the bike production in 1960, and closed the foundry in 1962. While Donnino returned to his first love of painting and sculpture, until his death in 1980.

The 1951 Rumi Regolanta 125cc. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

Is history repeating itself? After some time away from the world of racing motorbikes, one of Donnino's grandsons named Stefano established the Rumi Sport Race Engineering in 2009, and developed (both of 125 cc and 250 cc) and lastly competed under Team Rumi in collaboration with Clay Paky at the Moto3 of 2014 racing seasons.

This Moto3 racing bike powered by a 250cc four stroke engine was unveiled in 2013 after one year of toil by Rumi-Sport Engineering. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

Thus a brief history of Moto Rumi that once dominated various racing circuits in the 1950s to 1960s.