News
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Remarkable Vespa auctioned
The oldest known extant Vespa, one of the first series (‘0’) scooters, came up for sale with Dutch online auction site Catawiki. With prototypes one and two gone, this, the third, is the oldest. At the time of going to press, it had been bid to over £123,000! Have a look at www.catawiki.com Read more…
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Born in the USA
The next edition of The Classic MotorCycle, the May 2017 number, has a cover feature which details BSA’s handsome and unusual BSA A65 Firebird Scrambler. In the 1950s and early 1960s, desert racing was big business in America – and BSA, along with fellow British maker Triumph, was, for the most part, the ‘weapon of…
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West country joys
The Bristol show once more lived up to its reputation as a friendly, fun, feature-filled event, with some show-stopping machines up for delectation. For a few minutes, I stood by the information desk at the Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show. A man approached the desk: “Where’s the Lawrence Brough, please?” he enquired, and received…
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Stunning price for four
What is believed to be the only original/unrestored 1912 Henderson known in America, complete with original paint and tyres, sold at Mecum’s Las Vegas sale for a staggering $490,000. The in-line four, featuring a 59 cubic inch F-Head Four Cylinder engine, came out of the Doc Cleveland collection. Its unique condition, and the fact it…
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Back to the future
An overhead camshaft, four-cylinder 600cc machine, in a spring frame. Launched in late 1930. The Matchless Silver Hawk really was ahead of its time. Words: JAMES ROBINSON Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN The history of motorcycling is littered with glorious failure. Admittedly, some is more glorious than others – say, perhaps, Phillip Vincent’s determination to engineer (over-engineer)…
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Degens at South of England show
Dave Degens of Dresda Triton is guest of honour at the South of England Classic Show & Bikejumble on April 2. Dave will be bringing his rare 1958 Matchless G45 to the South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex. Although never overly successful, only 200 were made of this 500cc triple-valve-spring twin. You can listen…
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Hitchcocks purchases Enfield history
In 1967, when the Royal Enfield factory in Redditch closed, the Enfield Cycle Company Ltd was purchased by Norton Villiers Ltd. Norton Villiers contracted Enfield Precision Engineers to carry on production of the Royal Enfield Interceptor. Enfield Precision Engineers had been producing virtually all the postwar Royal Enfield twin engines from the early 1950s and…
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Sporting Sparkle
Panther wanted a range-topper for its pre-Second World War line-up, and came up with this half-litre contender. Words and photographs: Phillip Tooth Finances must have been tight in 1937 for Phelon & Moore Ltd of Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, because the makers of Panther motorcycles couldn’t afford a stand at the biggest event of the year –…
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DOG ROGER*: *D.R.”, or Dispatch Rider, in the phonetic alphabet of the Second World War.
A two-part look at the role of Britain’s service motorcyclists, both men and women, in the harsh days of the Second World War. Words: Steve Wilson Photographs: Mortons Archive If the First World War saw the dawn of mechanised warfare, the Second World War, with its blitzkriegs, massive tank battles on the Russian steppes, and…
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Bonhams in Vegas
The rare 1914 Feilbach 10hp Limited, pictured, was the stand-out lot in Bonhams’ Vegas auction, selling for $195,000, which equates to £156,000. The rare 1130cc twin had been assembled after the company closed, and was the personal property of Charles Feilbach, son of the company founder. Other interesting prices included $150,000 for a Vincent Black Knight…
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