Baretta made in Italy by Piccoli Motori Minarelli V1 or Morini MO1
Baretta also made in Italy by Italvelo Morini MO2 engine
Piccoli Motori srl was near Bologna Italy, but is not in the Wheels of Italy Encyclopedia. “Piccoli” is an Italian surname that also means “smalls”.
Baretta of America: Baretta is a trade name made up by Baretta of America, 2904 S Figueroa Av, Los Angeles California. The Wheels of Italy Encyclopedia lists Baretta but has no information. When you search Google for “ciclomotore Baretta” you don’t see any, but for “Baretta moped” you see dozens. That suggests it was a USA-only brand name. The spelling of “Baretta” is that of the 1970’s TV series, with a detective played by Robert Blake, not the “Beretta” hand gun.
Italvelo: Italvelo was in Bologna Italy, but is not in the Wheels of Italy Motorcycle Encyclopedia. They made mostly bicycles, and also Aspes, Bianchi, Snark, Italvelo, and Velomec mopeds.
Baretta of America – Timeline
1977 xxx xxx frame xxxx xxxxx engine xxx tires xx seat
Model 22 Piccoli tube frame, Minarelli V1 2.25-16 solo
Model 38 (22 with long seat), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Model 44 Piccoli mono-tube, Minarelli V1 2.25-16 solo
Model 45 w/mags (44 mono), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 solo
Magnum (22 with top tank), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
mid-77 22, 38, 44, 45, Magnum parts manual was made
Magnum w/mags (top tank), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Sport 44 Italvelo mono-tube, Morini MO2 2.25-16 solo
Model 22: The first Baretta moped was Model 22, in early 1977 or possibly late 1976. It was a step-thru type with a solo seat. It had a Minarelli V1 1-speed automatic moped engine. The first tank stickers were plain block letters. The stickers soon changed to the slanted stylized logo with green and red background. That sticker style continued through 1979.
Sport 44: This model had a Franco Morini MO2 2-speed automatic engine instead of Minarelli V1 1-speed. The frame was made by Italvelo rather than Piccoli. Not many were made evidently because there are no photos on the internet, except this one.
Magnum: This top-tank model was popular. Americans, especially young men, liked the big 2-gallon gas tank and the motorcycle look. The Magnum was also offered with cast aluminum alloy wheels in the style Razze Incrociate made by Grimeca.
Mags: Grimeca in Italy made the world’s first cast alloy production motorcycle wheel in 1974. US-model mopeds first had Grimeca cast aluminum alloy wheels in 1977. They are called mags or mag wheels because the first car alloy wheels were made of magnesium. The style Razze Incrociate (crossed ray) is nicknamed “snowflake” in America.
1978 xxx xxx frame xxxx xxxxx engine xxx tires xx seat
Model 22 Piccoli tube frame, Minarelli V1 2.25-16 solo
Model 38 (22 with long seat), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Model 38 w/mags (long seat), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Model 44 Piccoli mono-tube, Minarelli V1 2.25-16 solo
Model 45 w/mags (44 mono), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Magnum (22 with top tank), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Magnum w/mags (top tank), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Mini City Piccoli tube mini, Morini MO1 3.00-12 long
1979 xxx xxx frame xxxx xxxxx engine xxx tiresxx seat
Model 38 (22 with long seat), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Model 38 w/mags (long seat), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Model 44 Piccoli mono-tube, Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Model 45 w/mags (44 mono), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Magnum (22 with top tank), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Magnum XL w/mags p tank), Minarelli V1 2.25-16 long
Minisport XL w/mags tank), Morini MO1 3.00-12 long
Baretta learned that Americans like long seats, compared to Europeans. By 1979 all models had long seats.
Baretta of America – 1977 Parts Catalog
This edition covers models 22, 38, 44, 45 and Magnum, but not Sport 44. There are no dates anywhere on it. In the mag wheel section it says “pieces that differ in mag wheels, as used in model 45”. That implies that only model 45 had mags at the time the parts manual was made. That dates it to mid-1977.
Model 22
Baretta model 22 parts
01-22.0 none frame
02-22.0 none swing arm
03-22.0 $$.$$ center stand
04-22.0 $$.$$ chain guard
05-22.0 none gas tank
06-22.0 $$.$$ engine cover
07-22.0 $$.$$ fork sheath
08-22.0 $$.$$ fork top plate
09-22.0 $$.$$ inner slider right
10-22.0 $$.$$ inner slider left
11-22.0 $$.$$ fork spring
12-22.0 $$.$$ spring bearer
13-22.0 $$.$$ handlebar clamp
14-22.0 $$.$$ screw M8 x 20
15-22.0 $$.$$ washer 8mm
16-22.0 $$.$$ screw M6 x 25
17-22.0 $$.$$ rubber grommet
18-22.0 $$.$$ handlebar
19-22.0 $$.$$ brake lever
20-22.0 $$.$$ starter lever
21-22.0 $$.$$ brake lever spring
22-22.0 $$.$$ start lever spring
23-22.0 $$.$$ lever pivot
24-22.0 $$.$$ cable barrel
25-22.0 $$.$$ left control housing
26-22.0 $$.$$ right control no lever
27-22.0 $$.$$ right grip 24mm
28-22.0 $$.$$ left grip 22mm
29-22.0 $$.$$ right control assembly
30-22.0 $$.$$ left control assembly
31-22.0 $$.$$ front brake cable housing
31.1-22 $$.$$ front brake inner wire
32-22.0 $$.$$ rear brake cable housing
32.1-22 $$.$$ rear brake inner wire
33-22.0 $$.$$ start cable housing
33.1-22 $$.$$ start cable inner wire
35-22.0 $$.$$ throttle cable
36-22.0 $$.$$ light/horn switch left.0
36.1-22 $$.$$ engine stop switch right CEV 8177
37-22.0 $$.$$ wiring harness
38-22.0 $$.$$ headlight body
39-22.0 $$.$$ headlight assembly.0
39.1-22 none sealed beam bulb 6V 21W CEV 171 use 39.1s22
39.1s22 $30.0 replaceable bulb headlight takes auto bulb 6V 21W #1129 or 12V #1156
40-22.0 $$.$$ headlight rim CEV Tipo 105
41-22.0 $$.$$ side reflector CEV rectangular
42-22.0 $$.$$ headlight rim screw M5 x 15 slot
43-22.0 $$.$$ horn 6V AC
44-22.0 $$.$$ horn screw
45-22.0 $$.$$ brake light switch normally closed when installed
46-22.0 $$.$$ brake switch rubber cover
47-22.0 $$.$$ tail light body
47.1-22 $$.$$ bulb holder-reflector w/resistor
47.2-22 $$.$$ fender rubber cushion
48-22.0 $$.$$ tail light lens
49-22.0 $$.$$ lens screw
50-22.0 $$.$$ bulb 6V 5W
50.1-22 $$.$$ bulb 6V 10W
50.2-22 $$.$$ tail light assembly CEV 9400.2
51-22.0 $$.$$ steering top nut
52-22.0 $$.$$ steering washer
53-22.0 $$.$$ upper cup threaded
54-22.0 $$.$$ upper cone for frame
55-22.0 $$.$$ lower cup for frame
56-22.0 $$.$$ lower cone for fork
57-22.0 $$.$$ ball cage
57.1-22 $$.$$ steering set
58-22.0 $$.$$ solo seat
59-22.0 $$.$$ tool box
60-22.0 $$.$$
51-22.0 $$.$$
52-22.0 $$.$$
53-22.0 $$.$$
54-22.0 $$.$$
55-22.0 $$.$$
56-22.0 $$.$$
57-22.0 $$.$$
58-22.0 $$.$$ .0
59-22.0 $$.$$
60-22.0 $$.$$
61-22.0 $$.$$
62-22.0 $$.$$
63-22.0 $$.$$
64-22.0 $$.$$
65-22.0 $$.$$
66-22.0 $$.$$
67-22.0 $$.$$
68-22.0 $$.$$
69-22.0 $$.$$
70-22.0 $$.$$
71-22.0 $$.$$
72-22.0 $$.$$
73-22.0 $$.$$
74-22.0 $$.$$
75-22.0 $$.$$
76-22.0 $$.$$
77-22.0 $$.$$
78-22.0 $$.$$
79-22.0 $$.$$ center stand spring
80-22.0 $$.$$ drive chain
81-22.0 $$.$$ drive chain master link
82-22.0 $10.0 gas cap 30mm quarter-turn
83-22.0 $20.0 gas valve A15 12×1 spigot back
84-22.0 $$.$$
85-22.0 $$.$$
86-22.0 $$.$$
87-22.0 none gas tank sticker
88-22.0 none choke sticker on foot plate
88.1-22 none petcock sticker on gas tank
88.2-22 none oil mix sticker on gas cap
88.4-22 none #22 sticker on frame and foot rest sides
Model 38
Baretta model 38 parts different from model 22
01-38.0 none frame (for long seat)
04-38.0 none chain guard chrome
58-38.0 none long seat
62-38.0 none front fender chrome
63-38.0 none rear fender chrome
77-38.0 $$.$$ rear shock
88.4-38 $$.$$ #38 sticker on frame and foot rest sides
Magnum
Baretta Magnum parts different from model 22
001-M none frame (for long seat and top tank)
04-38 none chain guard chrome
05-M none gas tank
62-38 none front fender chrome
63-38 none rear fender chrome
68-M none tank rubber band
69-M none tank pad
77-38 none rear shock
90-M none tank rubber grommet
104-M $0.80 phillips screw M6 x 20 tank mount
105-M washer 6 x 18 tank mount
124-M tube spacer tank mount
Model 44
Baretta model 44 parts different from model 22
1-44.00 none frame
30-44.0 none headlamp bracket
58-44.0 none solo seat
58-44.0 none long seat
58.1-44 none long seat bracket
62-44.0 none front fender stainless
63-44.0 none rear fender stainless
77-44.0 none rear shock
82-44.0 none gas cap clamp-on, pop-up type
83-44.0 none petcock
88.3-44 none sticker for air discharge valve
88.5-44 none sticker for chain guard
Mag Wheels
The Baretta and Malaguti floorboards look the same. The only difference is the bulge for the V1 or MO-1 start lever. Also the Cosmo Colt floorboard is like these, but with a different carb hole location. Piccoli probably made them, since that was their business.
Baretta components: Minarelli V1 engine 20(1.0hp), 25(1.5hp), 30mph(2.0hp) versions, Dellorto SHA 14/12 (or 14/9) carburetor, CEV lights and switches, Domino controls and levers, Grimeca hubs and brakes, CEV 6932 magneto, CEV or Veglia speedometer with LH driver. Gas cap for monotrave/tubone is clamp-on pop-up, for step-thru and top tank is 30mm qtr-turn.