Oldtimers

Scott 1938 498 cc “ Flying Squirrel” Ex-Steve McQueen water cooled two stroke twin combination frame # 4520M engine # DPZ4578 Bradford-born Alfred Angas Scott’s experiments with two-stroke motorcycle engines began in the closing years of the 19th century. The first complete Scott motorcycle followed in 1908, its twin-cylinder engine, two-speed foot-change gear and all-chain drive marking it out as an exceptionally advanced design for its day. Light weight, ample power and sure-footed handling th ...

Honda C50 1971 49cc OHC frame # C50L003077 engine # 7101699 The history of the Honda C50 begins in the 1950s, a period of post-World War II reconstruction in Japan. The country needed an affordable, reliable, and efficient means of transportation. Honda’s founder, Soichiro Honda, and then-director Takeo Fujisawa saw an opportunity to address this need. Together, they decided to develop a motorcycle that would be easy to use, even for those with no experience with motor vehicles. In 1958, the fir ...

Norton 1957 Model 40 “International” 348cc OHC frame # 1174901 engine # 1676 gearbox # G102A4239 One of the most charismatic model names in motorcycling history, ‘International’ was first used by Norton for its top-of-the-range sports roadster in 1932. The Inter’s Arthur Carroll-designed overhead-camshaft engine had been developed in the works racers for the preceding two years, and although it retained the classic 79x100mm bore/stroke dimensions and shaft-and-bevels cam drive of the existing CS ...

Vincent HRD 1947 Touring Rapide 998 cc V-twin with Watsonian Monaco MK1 sidecar frame # F10AB4448 engine # F10AB/1/448 Introduced in 1946, the Vincent-HRD Series-B Rapide was immediately the fastest production motorcycle on sale anywhere, with a top speed of 110 mph. The basic design clearly had even greater potential though, which would be realised later in the form of the Black Shadow and Black Lightning models. In 1950 “HRD” disappeared from the logo; the machines were renamed “The Vincent”. ...

BSA 1913 “Model E” 3½ HP 499 cc side valve single frame # 4584 engine # 11791/13 BSA entered the motor cycle market with a sturdy 3½ HP belt driven single geared machine, that was displayed at the 1910 Olympia show. It was constructed almost entirely from BSA-made components and was produced from the company’s Redditch factory. Within six months from their launching the BSA’s with their distinctive green and cream tank colours were selling well. No less than 5 models were catalogued for 1913, al ...

Yale 1912 “Model 27” 7 HP 998 cc AIV V-twin engine # 2403 Yale was a foremost player in the first decade of American motorcycling. The make was marketed by the Consolidated Manufacturing Company of Toledo, Ohio. Originally the company made bicycles under the brand names of “Snell” an “Yale”. To make a flying start in motorcycle production the California Motorcycle Company was bought in 1903 and for its first five years the motorcycle was sold as the Yale-California. In 1909 the big single grew t ...

Harley-Davidson 1932 “Model R” 742 cc side valve V-twin frame & engine # 32R1205 The company introduced the side valve concept for the V-twins for the 1929 model year when the 742cc model D was presented. A year later the F head big twin was replaced by the side valve 121cc model V. The model D was sometimes referred to as the “three cylinder Harley“, because of the remarkable vertical position of the dynamo. For the 1932 model year a redesigned 750 was marketed as the Model R. It differed in ma ...

Harley-Davidson 1942 “WLA” 750cc side valve V-twin frame & engine # 42WLA51423 Harley-Davidson began producing the WLA in small numbers in 1940, as part of a general military expansion. The later entry of the United States into World War II saw significantly increased production, with over 90,000 being produced during the war (along with spare parts the equivalent of many more). Harley Davidson would also produce a close WLA variant for the Canadian Army. This model was called the WLC. Productio ...

Gilera 1947ca Saturno 499 cc ohv single frame & engine # 264002 The Gilera Saturno was shown for the first time at the Milan show in 1938, the single unit engine designed by Guiseppe Salmaggi being a departure from the norm of the day; besides having clean lines most components were easily removable without taking the engine out of the frame. The main production ran from 1946 till 1958. In that period only about 6000 Saturnos were produced. Through the years of production four types were availab ...

Sunbeam 1939 “High Camshaft” Standard model B 25 498 cc OHV frame # 925 engine# B 25 E637 In the mid-thirties Sunbeam parent company ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) decides to dispose of the hardly profitable cycle and motorcycle side. AMC buys the business in 1937, their main interests being the bicycle dealer network and the well-established famous “Sunbeam” name. Production moves from Wolverhampton to Plumstead. That’s to say, there is so much stock that it’s enough to sustain production i ...

BSA 1925 6 HP Model E 27 770 cc side valve V-twin frame # N 2127 engine # A223 The Model E is BSA’s first V-twin, primarily intended as a sidecar machine. It is introduced in 1920 and remains in production up to 1932. In 1922 a somewhat scaled up version is brought out, the 986 cc model F. From 1932 on the 986 cc model will be BSA’s only V-twin. The 76×85 engine has the cylinders set at a 50 degree angle. The valves are interchangeable, with quickly adjustable tappets. The constant loss lubricat ...

Harley-Davidson 1963 FL “Duo-Glide” 1207cc OHV V-twin frame & engine # 63FL7298 The Duo-Glide was so-named because in 1958 Milwaukee’s 1207cc Panhead was equipped with both telescopic front forks and a swingarm rear suspension, the latter’s action controlled by a pair of outsized, chrome-covered shock absorbers. It was a big step forward in comfort for touring riders, who came to revel in the bike’s cushy ‘Glide Ride.’ Many mounted saddlebags and a windshield, and hit the road bound for points u ...

ILO ca1952 F60H 60cc two stroke cycle motor fitted to contemporary carrier bicycle engine # 43857 In 1911, Heinrich Christiansen starts a machine factory near Hamburg, in the north of Germany. Initially, the company is mainly active in the field of machines and tools for the railways. Christiansen chooses as brand name ILO (also spelled JLO, Esperanto for ”Good Tool”). From the 1920s the focus is mainly on building affordable and reliable two-stroke engines for a wide range of applications. Mope ...

Harley-Davidson 1921 Model “F” 989 cc IOE V-twin frame & engine # 21F3331 1909 marks the appearance of Harley-Davidson’s first v-twin, though it’s not until the adoption of mechanically operated inlet valves in 1911 (replacing the ‘atmospheric’ type inherited from the single) that production really takes off. This ‘F-head’ (inlet-over-exhaust) engine will remain in production for the next 19 years. Year by year the models are further developed and in 1921 a larger-capacity 1212 cc engine becomes ...

Matchless 1966 G15 CSR 745 cc ohv twin frame # 112612 engine # CSR112612 The G-15 CSR is launched at the Earls Court Show in late 1964 and is fitted with all the extras that café racer adepts desire: lots of chrome and polished alloy, low handlebars, swept-back exhausts, matching speedometer and rev counter, fork gaiters, rear set footrests et cetera. The 745 cc twin engine comes from the Norton Atlas and develops 49 bhp@6,400 rpm. The CSR has a top speed of about 170 km/h and weighs some 180 kg ...

Morgan Monotrace 1926 “Torpédo biplace” 499 cc water cooled side valve single chassis # 246 The idea of designing and building a vehicle that would have the benefits of both a car and a motorcycle has been appealing to engineers and manufacturers from the beginning of the 20 th century. The simplicity, economy and manoeuvrability of a motorcycle and the comfort and protection of a car, could that be combined in one vehicle? One of the people who tried to achieve this goal was German engineer Gus ...

Indian 1919 “NE-19 PowerPlus” 998 cc side valve V- twin frame & engine # 83M774 The real landmark year for Indian was 1907 when the company introduced the first of its mighty V-twins, the rear cylinder of the early models continuing to form part of the frame until 1909. In that year the loop frame was adopted and continued development and innovation saw the development of the overhead valve, four-valves-per-cylinder racers in 1911. The hugely popular PowerPlus, a 61 cu.in. (998cc) flathead V-twi ...

Rover 1912 499 cc side valve with Armstrong 3-speed hub gear frame # S32715 engine # 1923 The Rover safety bicycle creates a breakthrough in bicycle design at the end of the 19th century. In November 1903 the company presents its first motorcycle, which is much ahead of its time: a well-designed side valve engine with mechanically operated valves, spray carburettor, strong frame with double front down tubes and excellent finish. It creates a lot of interest and a thousand or so are sold in 1904. ...

Martinsyde 1921 6 HP “ Series D” 678 cc exhaust-over-inlet V-twin frame # NO1080 engine # H1050 The British firm of Martinsyde was founded in 1908 when Helmuth Paul Martin and George Harris Handasyde went into partnership to build aircraft. By the end of WWI Martinsyde was Britain’s third largest aircraft manufacturer, occupying sites at Brooklands and Woking. Faced with a sharp downturn in demand for its products, the firm turned to motorcycle production at the war’s end, having acquired the ri ...

Automoto 1902ca Tricycle 398ca cc AIV single engine # SF656 Automoto was one of the pioneer French makes: at the end of the 19th century a group of bicycle parts manufacturers in St. Etienne merged into one company that got the name Automoto. Soon production of complete cycles, motorised tricycles and automobiles was taken up, next to various other products such as washing machines, hunting weapons and sundry agricultural machinery. During the 1914-1918 war the company focussed on munitions manu ...