Lot 107

Salon Privé

1939 Brough Superior 11.50 V-Twin

{{lr.item.text}}

£36,960 GBP | Sold

United Kingdom | United Kingdom

{{internetCurrentBid}}

{{internetTimeLeft}}


language
Frame No.
M8/2214

50 hp, 1,000 cc V-twin side-valve engine, Amal carburettor, four-speed, hand-shift transmission, bucket saddle with rear pillion and tool bags, sprung front forks, sprung rear, hand-operated front drum brake, foot-operated rear drum brake. Wheelbase: approx. 60"

- One of only 47 built in 1935

- A rare example of one of the most revered motorcycle marques

- Well documented history

Brough Superiors will always be associated with Lawrence of Arabia and his SS100, GW 2275, on which he took his last ride. But between 1924 and 1940, George Brough built 3,048 superb, world-renowned motorcycles of various models including this, the 11.50 twin, which was powered by a large 1,000-cc J.A. Prestwich side-valve engine. Utterly reliable, and often fitted with a sidecar for police use, 308 were made, making them even more rare than the famed SS100. A cradle frame was used, with either Castle or Brampton Monarch Forks and a four-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox with hand change was fitted. The engine had detachable aluminium cylinder heads, valve spring enclosures and dry sump lubrication, and a specially tuned one reached 101 mph.

One of 47 built in 1935, the 11.50 offered today was originally dispatched from Haydn Street on 1st July 1935 bearing frame number 8/1499 and engine number LTZ/R/46709/5RF with Staffordshire registration number RE8208. At the time it was fitted with a Swallow sidecar and a rigid frame. Like many Broughs, the machine was returned to the factory in 1952 and fitted with a sprung frame, number M8/2214. This was one of the spare frames made in September 1939 before the outbreak of World War II, which halted production. It is only two digits away from the very last frame made. At this time, the motorcycle was also fitted with a Norton gearbox and re-registered with a Warwickshire number MUE 138.

Twelve years later, whilst in the ownership of one Mr. Priestly of Kings Norton, Birmingham, MUE 138 received a replacement engine, number LTZ/D/35129/5, which it retains to this day. This was taken from another 11.50 with the frame number 8/1338, which had left the works on 28th November 1933 bound for service with the Glamorgan Constabulary.

The motorcycle was subsequently sold to a series of owners in Bedford, Lincoln, Stoke on Trent, Manchester, Bolston and Northwhich before appearing in the UK television programme The Antiques Trail in 2000.

Now remaining in original condition, it is complete and in fine running order, having just been treated to a service and general check-over by a Brough specialist. It is offered with a new MoT, UK V5C logbook and letter from the Brough Superior Owners Club Machine Registrar, to whom we are grateful for this information.