Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In 1981 the new owner Alejandro De Tomaso inaugurated the era of the engine nicknamed "square head" which replaced the previous generation of the "round head". This curious definition takes inspiration from the shape of the cylinder cooling fins and valve covers of the historic V2, initially round, later squared. In the same year the California became a model in itself, and the California II was born with the 948 cm³ engine of the Le Mans 1000. A long-lived and widely successful motorcycle, it remained available in a single version (with the exception of an automatic transmission version reserved for to the USA) until 1987.
In 1981 the new owner Alejandro De Tomaso inaugurated the era of the engine nicknamed "square head" which replaced the previous generation of the "round head". This curious definition takes inspiration from the shape of the cylinder cooling fins and valve covers of the historic V2, initially round, later squared. In the same year the California became a model in itself, and the California II was born with the 948 cm³ engine of the Le Mans 1000. A long-lived and widely successful motorcycle, it remained available in a single version (with the exception of an automatic transmission version reserved for to the USA) until 1987.
