Oldtimers

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 ...

Indian 1922 Model GE “Scout” 596 cc side valve V-twin frame & engine # 50T195 After WW I the Indian factory decides it’s time to market a somewhat lighter model than the 1000 cc PowerPlus. The new model, designated “Scout”, is the brainchild of Charles Franklin and creates a sensation when brought out at the end of 1919. The strong points of the new model are easy handling, lightness, ample power for the 1920s roads and unbeatable reliability. The engine is essentially a scaled-down version of t ...

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 ...

Indian 1936 Model TC Traffic Car 1206 cc V-twin frame # 3361273 engine # CCF 1273 B Next to the motorcycles with commercial side cars Indian marketed some vehicles with two rear wheels on a differential-type axle. The first of this was the Dispatch Tow. It was first brought out in 1931 as a vehicle specially designed for use by automobile dealers, fitted with a 101 Scout engine. At that time cars needed more frequent garage maintenance ( lubrication and running adjustments) and two men were usua ...

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 ...

Norton 1948 “Model 18” 490 cc OHV single frame # C3 17544 engine # C3 17544CT The Model 18 is first catalogued in 1923 and improvements resulting from the racing programme are regularly incorporated into the production bikes, yet the Model 18 retains its essentially vintage characteristics until an extensive redesign in 1931. At this time Norton’s side valve and overhead valve singles adopt the rear-mounted magneto – already seen on the ES2 – and switch to dry-sump lubrication. Norton continues ...

New Gerrard 1926 345cc JAP OHV frame # 35228 engine # IO/M 33095 John Adam Porter (1894-1952), better known as Jock, was the first Scotsman to win the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race and was a European Grand Prix motorcycle racing champion. From 1922 to 1940 he designed and built “New Gerrard” motorcycles from his Edinburgh based business, Porter’s Motor Mart. Porter made his debut in the Isle of Man in the 1922 Junior race but he had to retire. In 1923 he won the 250 cc class at an average speed ...

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 ...

Harley-Davidson “1916” 989cc 8-valve OHV V-twin recreation Board Track Racer “Lattin’s Lightning Twin” engine # 4721 H Indian had presented its four valve singles and eight valve twin OHV racers in 1911 and they had been very successful on the racing tracks. These machines had parallel inlet and exhaust valves. The Harley-Davidson company realised they had to come with an OHV concept too but they chose for a design with hemispherical combustion chambers and valves set at an angle of 90 degrees. ...

Peugeot 1904 2 ½ HP ca 300 cc aiv single frame # 5846 engine # 4508 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 qua ...

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 ...

Bradbury 1914 6 HP 750cc side valve v-twin frame # 44923 engine # 8486 Bradbury & Co. was one of the pioneers of the British motor cycle industry: already in 1902 the company advertised a motorcycle driven by a Minerva clip-on engine. Before motorcycles were being produced at the Wellington Works in Oldham, the company – established in 1852 – had already earned a worldwide reputation as Britain’s and Europe’s first sewing machine manufacturer. Bradbury & Co. was active on various markets: the fi ...

BSA 1933 “R33-4” 348 cc two-port OHV frame # A41115 engine # A4.444 BSA’s 1933 range comprised models from 249 cc till 986 cc. The model ranges got a letter code: “B” for 249 cc, “R” for 348 cc, “W” for 499 cc, “M” for 595 cc and finally “G” for the big 986 cc twin. In the “R” class there is a choice of two models, the “standard” R33-4 and the more sporty R33-5 “Blue Star” that has a tuned engine. The R33-4 is presented in the catalogue as “The machine for the rider who wants real snappy acceler ...

Harley Davidson 1935 “VD” 1217 cc side valve V-twin combination frame # 35118 engine # 35VD3143 In 1930 the Model “V” came on the market to replace the F-head models J and JD. In the beginning there were serious problems with the design but once these were ironed out the new model gained a good reputation both as a solo mount and as a sidecar puller. The “V” range was produced till 1936 in capacities of 1217 and 1293 cc and the machines were available with many specification details. The model r ...

Douglas 1948 T 35 Mk III 348cc ohv transverse twin frame & engine # T35/S/5820/3 Although the first details of an entirely new Douglas twin were already announced during September 1945, it was not until July the following year that pre-production machines were available for a road test by the motorcycle press. “Torrens” , pen name of Arthur Bourne , editor of The Motor Cycle, took the new ohv twin for a spin and wrote favourably about it in the magazine’s July 11, 1946 issue: “What impressed me ...