Fans of the 1967 Moto Guzzi V7 need not be worried about their beloved bike being bastardized for the sake of publicity. More than four decades after introducing the original large displacement V-Twin, Moto Guzzi has created a new chapter of history in the US market with the debut of their 2009 V7 Classic.

Originally commissioned by the Italian police force, the V7 gained a loyal following and moved to mass production, where numerous variants such as the V7 Sport, V7 Special and the U.S. market versions V7 Ambassador, Eldorado and California were created.

The new V7 Classic is simple yet stylish. Powered by a four-stroke 744cc 90-degree V-Twin mated to a five-speed gearbox, the new V7 utilizes modern innovations like graphite low-wear pistons, Brembo brakes and an electronic Weber Marelli fuel injection system, which certainly wouldn’t have come as standard equipment in 1967.

The V7 will be offered exclusively in Moon White pearl paint with classic Moto Guzzi tank decals. Designers were careful to style the new V7 Classic in a way that would honor several variants of the V7 model over the years without appearing tacky, over done or contrived. If more people held icons of the past in such esteem, we would all be better off.

“I’m donating my Moto Guzzi California motorcycle,” says McGregor, a UNICEF ambassador. “It was the first and original white one – the only one of its kind and one of my favorite bikes.

“I collected this bike from the Moto Guzzi factory in Italy and I rode it back to London and I’ve loved riding it ever since. Whoever wins this bike won’t be disappointed.”

The bike will be auctioned off on e-Bay and the money raised will go to UNICEF UK’s children’s emergency fund. According to McGregor, this fund enables UNICEF to react quickly and launch a response the moment a disaster strikes.

“This fund is one way UNICEF UK helps ensure that children in distress are assisted as soon as possible,” says McGregor.

Click on the link for more details on the UNICEF UK Children’s Emergency fund.