Oldtimers

Moto-Rêve 1910ca “Model A” 1¾ HP 248 cc automatic inlet valve single frame # 76293 engine # 20087 The Moto-Rêve (“motorcycle-dream“) was made in Geneva, Switzerland, and had many features in common with its main competitor in that city, Motosacoche. The first model was presented to the public in May 1906. A finely engineered little twin, that within a few yearsbecame well known in many European countries. Around 1909 the twin was supplemented with a 1 ¾ HP single with bore x stroke of 61 x 85 mm ...

Zenith 1914 “Gradua” 3 ½ HP 494 cc JAP side valve singe frame # 2957 engine # 14547 Zenith machines were manufactured from 1904 till 1950, in a variety of factories in or around London. From the early days proprietary engines were used, such as Fafnir, Green-Precision, JAP, Bradshaw and Villiers. The latter engines were used in most models from the thirties. In pre- WW1 days Zenith machines gained many successes; driving force was chief Engineer Freddy Barnes, who was responsible for the famous ...

Indian 1947 Model 347 “Chief” 1206cc side valve V-twin Frame # 3479505 Engine # CDG 4505 B In 1940, some 39 years after the company’s founding, Indian went all-in on the skirted fender design, outfitting Scouts, Chief and Fours with the new tinware. After World War 2 only the Chief made a return – in 1947 they did make 11,849 of them – supposedly a stop-gap measure until lighter, more advanced models came online. But a series of financial and engineering missteps doomed the company and Chiefs we ...

James 1915 “ No. 6” 4¼ HP 598cc side valve combination frame # D6834 engine # 4727 The James Cycle Company became a public company in 1897. Then Harold James, the founder of the company, quietly retired from the scene. When the first James motorcycle was marketed in 1902, Harold had already passed away. The veteran James models were merely strengthened bicycles with Derby and Minerva engines. Later on FN engines were used. The firm prospered and already in 1912 countershaft gears were offered on ...

Peugeot 1903 2HP Type “C” 239 cc aiv frame # 1338 engine # 498 Although a prototype De Dion-engined Peugeot bicycle was displayed at the Paris Salon in 1898, the first motorized cycles to leave the factory were actually tricycles with De Dion & Bouton engines. The popularity of the tricycle was unchallenged at first, but by 1902 the motorized bicycle started to take the lead: at the Paris Salon in December 1901 81 motorized cycles were exhibited, of which there were only 21 tricycles or quadricy ...

BMW 1948 R24 247 cc OHV single frame & engine # 200953 Built to the same exemplary standards as the Bavarian company’s famous flat-twins, the single-cylinder BMW first appears in 1925 as the 247 cc R39. Throughout the twenties and thirties singles are brought out in various capacities, ranging from 198 cc to 398 cc. For a number of years after the war Allied restrictions prevent German companies to produce machines of greater capacity than 250cc, so BMW’s first postwar model is a 247 cc single, ...

Benelli 1935ca type 4 TN “Turismo Normale” 493 cc OHC two-port frame # 8850 engine # 4TN.10.8850 The firm of Benelli was founded in the Italian village of Pesaro as a repair workshop by widow Teresa Benelli to provide a future for her six sons. Initially, the brothers worked in a small garage where they created their first motorcycle in 1919. That first model was not a success so it was further developed and brought on the market in 1921. This “Velomotore” was a light 124 cc two stroke and withi ...

Honda 1968 CD175 174cc OHC twin frame # CD175-1016674 engine # CD175E-1018947 The Honda CD175was produced from 1967 to 1979. Described by Honda as a “great new all-rounder, at home around town or putting the highway behind you”, it was the touring model in Honda’s 175 cc motorcycle lineup that also included the sportier CB175 and the off-road CL175 version. It had an electric starter, except in the UK, turn signals, deeply valanced mudguards and mirrors. The inclined air-cooled engine was an evo ...

Fusi 1937ca “M 250 Sport ” 248 cc OHC Face Cam racing model frame # 39110 engine# 3812 C.F.S. 68×68 The firm of CF (designers Catellia and Fiorani) had started building powerful little 173 cc and 248 cc face cam OHC singles in 1928. They were very successful in racing. In 1937 the CF factory was taken over by the Fusi firm, which were the Italian FN importers. Next to the racing types with face cam engine, Fusi produced machines with J.A.P. engines that were built in Italy under licence. Fusi us ...

FN 1912 498cc AIV four cylinder frame # 37593 engine# 1365 To many enthusiasts the FN four has always been one of the most appealing machines of veteran and vintage times. Its production runs from 1905 till 1926. The earliest type has a 362 cc engine with atmospheric overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves. It’s single geared, has shaft drive and the top speed is about 60 km/hour. The FN four is an immediate success and finds customers all over the world; FN sells their machines in more th ...

BMW 1951 R25 245 cc OHV single frame & engine # 234892 BMW’s first postwar model is a 247 cc single, the R24, brought out in 1948. In 1950 an improved model is presented, the R25. The BMW development engineers have incorporated many improvements in this new model; the most important being rear suspension, a refined engine and a welded tubular frame with sidecar mounts. Among the other refinements are a centrally sprung saddle, adjustable footrests, more graceful front mudguard, aluminium front b ...

Triumph 1923 499 cc OHV four valve “ Ricardo” frame # 330308 engine 91188 PRI Triumph decided to enter the 1921 TT with an overhead valve model and Ricardo and Co. Ltd. were given the order to develop a four valve racing engine. That is to say, the engine bottom half to be used was essentially that of the side valve model SD and many cycle parts were SD too, so only cylinder and head were to be designed newly. The four valves were not arranged radially but were set two by two and the heads were ...

Clément 1903 Autocyclette 1¾ hp Model B 142 cc OHV engine # LM465 Adolphe Clément, born in 1855, becomes an orphan at an early age. He’s very interested in things mechanical and, as an apprentice at the village blacksmith’s, manages to build a simple bicycle out of wood for his own use. When he’s 17 he leaves his village on this bicycle to seek his fortune in other parts of France. In 1876 he starts to take part in cycle races and sets up a small cycle manufacture. He decides to move to Paris an ...

Excelsior 1913 “Model 7C“ single speed 974 cc IOE V-twin engine # 42814 The Excelsior Supply Company of Chicago starts producing motorcycles with its own single cylinder engine in 1908. In 1911 the firm becomes part of Ignaz Schwinn’s bicycle empire. The 1913 brochure introduces the new models with confidence: “ In presenting the 1913 Excelsior Auto-Cycle we have purposely condensed its features into these few pages. All mention of the innumerable Excelsior triumphs is omitted, for the speed and ...

Griffon 1904 2¾ HP 353 cc side valve Zédel frame # 23498 engine # 9086 Griffon is one of the oldest French makes: it was founded as a bicycle company and motorcycle production started in 1902. The factory was situated at the Rue Louis-Blanc in Courbevoie, Paris and for many years this make was in the foreground of French motorcycle manufacture. The firm was established in 1898 by Eugène Peugeot who had fallen out with his cousin Armand. They had arranged that Armand’s part of the business would ...

Peugeot 1904 2½ HP 300 cc aiv single frame # 11790 engine # 9294 Although a prototype De Dion-engined Peugeot bicycle was displayed at the Paris Salon in 1898, the first motorized cycles to leave the factory were actually tricycles with De Dion & Bouton engines. The popularity of the tricycle was unchallenged at first, but by 1902 the motorized bicycle started to take the lead: at the Paris Salon in December 1901 81 motorised cycles were exhibited, of which there were only 21 tricycles or quadri ...

Precision 1912 3 ¾ HP 499cc side valve single frame # 4419 engine # 1272 The company F.E. Baker Ltd. was founded by Frank Baker in 1906 to build bicycle fittings under the Precision name and was based at the Precision Works in Moorsom Street, Birmingham. Baker had previously worked for Eadie, Royal Enfield and Premier Cycles. In June 1910 Baker presented his first engine, a 499cc side valve with typical square finning. Business went well: In November 1911, at the London Olympia Show, no less tha ...

Moto Guzzi 1934ca. GT16 498 cc Inlet Over Exhaust frame # 4510 engine # 22066 In 1927 Giuseppe Guzzi, elder brother of Carlo and the engineering genius of the family, designed a prototype of a touring version of the Sport model, the Grand Tourer (GT). This machine was equipped with a very comfortable and well designed sprung frame, a swing arm with friction dampers. The new model was dubbed “Norge” after the Italian airship that had carried out the first verified flight over the North Pole in 19 ...

Velocette 1968 499cc OHV “ Thruxton” Frame # RS19708 Engine # VMT 785 Gearbox # 12-12815 The Truxton, designed in 1965 by Bertie Goodman, was almost an instant legend after a series of impressive results on various racing tracks, where its average speed often exceeded 100 mph. This high performance production racer, which was also sold over the counter in road going version, was a perfect choice for both the fast touring enthusiast and the racing buff. In 1965 the 500 mile race (held at castle C ...

Nimbus 1924 746 cc IOE four cylinder frame # 702 engine # N702 The Nimbus was manufactured by the firm of Fisker & Nielsen of Copenhagen. This company was formed in 1905 to manufacture electric motors; in 1910 the Nilfisk electric vacuum cleaner was marketed. This product was a great success and it was soon sold in many countries all over the world. Fisker believed he could develop a motorcycle that had its own unique shape, and in late 1918 decided to construct a prototype to his own design. It ...