Unrestored 1968 Benelli Wards Riverside 350 - 189 orig. miles
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Price: $3000 obo
Contact: motoamore@hotmail.com
This low-mile 1968 Benelli Wards Riverside 350 is a single-cylinder, four-stroke motorcycle manufactured by Italian marque Benelli and distributed in the U.S. through Montgomery Ward’s Riverside brand via mail-order catalog. Presented as all original, the seller notes it could serve as a rider or a restoration candidate. The bike exhibits signs of outdoor storage over time—paint shows fading, rust flecks, and scratches, while metal parts carry surface rust. The seller suggests some overspray likely originated from a nearby painting project years ago. Despite age, the motorcycle is intact. It reportedly starts and is rideable. Even the tires are believed to be original and could be retained for display if restoration is pursued.
The Benelli Riverside 350 featured an open-cradle steel-tube frame typical of Benelli singles of the era. Its four-stroke single produced approximately 20 horsepower and could reach a top speed of just over 80 mph—respectable for its class Bike-urious+1Motorious+1. One restored Candy Apple Red example reportedly reached “over 80 miles per hour” with the same claimed 20-hp output Bike-urious.
Benelli models available through Wards included a 350 cc version under model designation FFA-61-14020A, confirming the Riverside 350’s displacement and origin Wards Riverside Riders. The original catalog descriptions likely emphasized fuel economy and utility rather than outright performance—though exact catalog quotes for the 350 are sparse, it clearly outpaced the 250cc variant in both displacement and top speed.
As with other Riverside catalog bikes, this machine arrived partially assembled in its crate, with assembly completed by the buyer using included tools. Montgomery Ward’s Riverside line featured a variety of small-displacement motorcycles and scooters manufactured by Benelli, Bianchi, Lambretta, Motobécane, and Mitsubishi. More premium or larger Benelli motorcycles were imported and sold under the Benelli brand by different distributors WikipediaClassic MotorcyclesMyrons Mopeds+1.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Year & Type | 1968 Benelli Wards Riverside 350 (FFA-61-14020A) |
| Engine | Single-cylinder, four-stroke, ~350 cc |
| Power Output | ~20 hp |
| Top Speed | Just over 80 mph |
| Frame | Open-cradle steel-tube |
| Condition Notes | Original; shows fading, rust flecks, scratches, and overspray; intact; starts and is rideable |
| Market Context | Sold by Montgomery Ward under the Riverside brand; larger Benelli models were imported under Benelli’s own name |
