Oldtimers

Indian 1923 “PowerPlus Standard” 998cc side valve V- twin engine # 71V183 The hugely popular PowerPlus enjoyed a nine year production run. Its side-valve engine proved utterly reliable and almost unbreakable. However, by the early twenties the Chief and Big Chief had taken up the top position of the PowerPlus in the Indian range. In the 1922 catalogue the PowerPlus was referred to as the “Special” and in 1923 the model got wider and more modern looking mudguards. It was then christened “Standard ...

Norton 1953 Model 7 “Dominator” 497cc OHV parallel twin frame # 51784 engine # 5178 The Norton twin first appeared as the Dominator Model 7 at the Earls Court Show in November 1948. Its cycle parts were based on the single-cylinder ES2 model, and it had a modified form of the Norton gearbox and a brand new engine, designed by Bert Hopwood. He had previously worked on the Ariel Square Four and Triumph twin and was to go on to BSA in 1949 to design the A10 before returning to the Norton board in 1 ...

AJS 1936 model 36/10 “Camshaft Trophy Competition” 498 cc OHC single frame # 7/ 795 engine # 36/10 1051 In 1931, in the middle of the economic depression, The Matchless Company had taken over AJS Motorcycles and moved production from Wolverhampton to London. AJS machines kept their identity for some years, but from halfway the thirties rationalization was the keyword and Matchless and AJS models became almost identical, even to the engine numbering system, in which first the year and then the mo ...

Saroléa 1924 “23K Supersport” 494 cc OHV frame #30115 engine# 30115 The first Saroléa OHV model, the “23G Supersport” was presented for the 1924 season and had long stroke engine with configurations of 80.5 x 97 mm. One year later a 350 cc version was presented, the “ 25F Sport”. Both OHV models were consequently further developed and became very popular with sports riders. Late in 1924 the 1925 494 cc OHV model was announced and got the designation “23K”. An improvement was the new rear brake: ...

Triumph 1909 3½ HP Roadster 475 cc single speed frame # 159664 engine # 4686 The first Triumph motorcycle appeared in 1902. It was equipped with a Belgian Minerva engine. In 1903 and 1904 JAP and Fafnir ( German) engines were employed and by 1905 Triumph’s own engine, designed by Charles Hathaway was in use. Winning the single cylinder class in the 1908 TT races on the Isle of Man gave an enormous boost to sales of Triumph machines. The cubic capacity of the engine grew from 363cc in 1905 till 5 ...

Matchless 1922 Model H/2 996 cc MAG IOE V-twin frame # 3961 engine # 2C9 ^ No. 60982 The first Matchless motorcycle was made by the Collier brothers in 1899. In 1907 the Isle of man TT races in the single cylinder class were won: after a second place in 1908 victories were gained again in 1909 and 1910, proving that the machines were matchless indeed. After WW I the company designed a model especially suitable as a sidecar machine, the model “H”. Both JAP and MAG engines were used as power sourc ...

AJS 1927 Model H1 799 cc side valve v-twin frame & engine # H 60440 video: https://youtu.be/Dm1UrdhCbRQ The four Stevens brothers had been in motorcycle manufacturing since the final years of the 19th century, but only in 1911 their first complete “AJS” motorcycle, a 298 cc two speeder, was marketed. Their first V-twin Model D with a cubic capacity of 632 cc was introduced in 1912 and was a very successful model, especially for sidecar use. At the 1919 Olympia Show a redesigned 748 cc model D wa ...

Matchless 1996 “G50” 496cc OHC Tom Kirby tribute racer frame # MRD 93044 engine # RVB The Matchless G50 was a racing bike made by Associated Motorcycles (AMC) at the former Matchless works in London. It was introduced in 1958 and developed from the 350cc AJS 7R but with the engine capacity increased to 496cc. The “G50” designation stands for the 50bhp that the engine developed. The G50 was immediately popular, and while slightly less sophisticated than its Norton rival, it was nonetheless 30lb l ...

Saroléa 1926 494 cc OHV “23 M Super Sport” frame# 30060 engine# 30060 The firm was established in 1850 at Herstal (Liege) as an arms factory by Joseph Saroléa. In 1892 the production of bicycles was started. Joseph died in 1894 and under the management of his sons the company grew bigger and bigger. In the early years of the new century the company started to develop motorized bicycles and soon Saroléa was a force to reckon with: around 1907 the firm employed some 200 labourers and had 4000 m2 o ...

Indian 1915 7 HP “Model C3” 994 cc IOE V-twin engine # 72G745 Indian’s first, 38.61ci (633cc) v-twin appears in 1907 with an engine clearly derived from that of the single, though mechanical inlet valves – introduced for 1908 – are an early improvement. The twin’s rear cylinder continues to form part of the frame until 1909 when a loop frame of the type favoured by rivals Harley-Davidson is adopted. The Springfield Company’s first ‘Big Twin’ debutes that same year displacing 61 ci. By 1913 India ...

Raleigh 1922ca 2¾ HP 348cc side valve “2¾ HP Lightweight” frame # 11773 engine # 11340 In the beginning of the 20th century Raleigh’s main business is in the cycle trade. Company founder Frank Bowden is a firm believer in variable gear systems and from the end of 1902 the Raleigh Cycle company puts the Sturmey-Archer cycle hub gear on the market. There is some motorcycle production between 1899 and 1906, but only after the first world war serious thought is given again to motorcycle production. ...

MV Agusta 750S America Frame # MV750*2210380 DGM Engine # 221-0360 The 750S America model was introduced in 1975. It featured blockier styling and a larger engine than previous MV 750s. MV Agusta’s glorious racing background gave rise to numerous street bikes over the years, such as the 1977 MV Agusta 750S America motorcycle. The 790-cc double-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine in the 1977 MV Agusta 750S America motorcycle had its roots in a 500-cc racing powerplant. The exhaust system is a combi ...

Clément 1903 ca 1 ¾ HP 143 cc OHV Autocyclette frame # 18463 engine # LM 1815 Clément is one of the true French motorcycle pioneers and this particular model was produced around 1903. The big outside flywheel acts as a pulley for the direct round rubber belt transmission to the rear wheel. The seat tube is fitted with an adjustable belt tensioner. A spray carburettor takes care of the correct mixture and there is a throttle valve in the intake tube. Ignition is by trembler coil and battery, neat ...

Ascot-Pullin 1929 “ Sports Utility” 496 cc OHV frame # 184 Engine # AP 184 Cyril Pullin was a rare bird among the many fascinating motorcycle inventors of the early 20th century; while there were many rider-designer-manufacturers during the era, he was in very rare company of men who not only designed, built, and raced motorcycles, but also won an Isle of Man TT race, a distinction he shares only with Howard R. Davies (HRD) and Charlie and Harry Collier (Matchless). Pullin had an extremely inven ...

Phébus 1899 “Berceuse” 2 ¼ HP 269 cc De Dion Bouton quadricycle frame # 1368 engine # 10618 In 1895 De Dion Bouton begins to market motorized tricycles and from the start they are very successful. Year after year the design is improved and soon many manufacturers, big and small, introduce three wheelers, often with De Dion engines. A well-known make at the turn of the century is the Phébus motor tricycle. The marque takes its name from the Greek and Roman sun god, Phoebus (Apollo). The vehicles ...

Indian 1923ca PowerPlus “Big Valve” racing style special 998 cc side valve V- twin engine # 71V409 The Indian PowerPlus engine is a design of Charles Gustafson, who had already earned fame as an engine designer at the Reading Standard company. His task was to design a powerful, robust, reliable and production friendly engine to replace the old F-head V-twin design of Oscar Hedstrom. The resulting 61” side valve PowerPlus introduced in 1916 was an immediate success and this model is still one of ...

Harley-Davidson 1914 “10E” single speed 989 cc IOE V-twin engine # 1580EH The first V-twin Harley prototype is displayed at the Chicago Motorcycle Show in February 1907, but it isn’t until 1909 that the first twins are for sale; officially they are still considered prototypes and only 27 are sold. The engine has a capacity of 880cc and has atmospheric intake valves. The standard colour of these machines is Renault Gray with carmine striping. The engines are not as good as the company expects so ...

Bianchi 1934 “Frecchia Azzurra Gran Sport” 496 cc OHV frame & engine # 65631 The history of Bianchi begins in 1885, when Edoardo Bianchi opens his first shop in the Via Nirone in Milan and starts to construct bicycles. In 1888 he’s the first in Italy to move from solid tyres to the Dunlop-patent air chamber type. From 1897 till 1902 tricycles and quadricycles are produced and in 1902 comes the first motorcycle, fitted with a De Dion-Bouton engine. Car manufacture starts in 1908. Most models from ...

Peugeot 1912ca Motocyclette Légère 2 ½ HP Type “MD” 333 cc AIV V-twin frame # 16287 engine # 24484 In 1910 Peugeot brings out a light V- twin motorcycle that will become an enormous success. The “Moto Légère MD” is equipped with a 333 cc (55 x 70) 45 degree V-twin engine with automatic inlet valves, direct belt transmission, Bosch magneto, single lever Claudel carburettor and Truffault front forks. The little machine proves easy to start, easy to handle and is very reliable. Moreover, it weighs ...

Motosacoche 1912 M5 2 ¼ HP 290cc side valve single frame # A4905 engine # MV 23819 In 1899 the brothers Henri and Armand Dufaux from Geneva, Switzerland, design a little four-stroke engine. This compact unit can be bolted into the frame of any ordinary pushbike: The “Motosacoche” -which approximately means “engine-bag”- is born! Very soon the quality and practical utility of the invention becomes known even far beyond the Swiss territory. Gradually the engines grow bigger and more powerful, twin ...