Beschreibung:

This sidevalve-engined 350 Humber was first registered ‘RT 5169’, consecutively with the other Humber in the sale (‘RT 5168’, Lot 530) and is offered for sale by the same vendor. The machine was first owned by a resident of Carshalton, Surrey, whose wife - so the story goes - fell of the pillion seat and vowed never to get on it again. So upset was its owner that he put the bike away in the garden shed and forgot about it. In 1966 the long-forgotten and untouched Humber was discovered and purchased by the current vendor from the first owner’s widow, who was moving house. The machine was pushed five miles to its new home and within one hour was running again for the first time in nearly 40 years! A two-year restoration ensued, though very little of this outstandingly original machine required replacement - merely the control cables, footrest rubbers and engine bearings. The tyres were later changed but the brake linings are the originals! Restoration was completed in time for the 1968 Humber Centenary Rally in Coventry (see plaque on toolbox) and the machine was used only occasionally for VMCC events over the next couple of years. In 1970 the vendor sold the Humber to a prominent VMCC member Leonard Dunstall on the understanding that should it be sold again he would have first refusal. In May 1980 the current owner duly repurchased the machine for his private museum collection and has owned it ever since. Over the past 28 years the Humber has been used only sparingly, taking part in 10 consecutive Banbury Runs and a handful of other VMCC events, covering some 3,000-or-so miles in total. In 2001 the vendor relocated to South Africa, taking the machine with him. Since then it has been started only once – 18 months ago – and ridden a mere five miles, purely for exercise. Unquestionably one of the most original examples of its type still in existence, this wonderful Humber ‘flat tanker’ comes with its original tool roll, sales leaflet, handbook and parts list; copies of significant photographs; one new spare tyre; and Swansea V5C registration document. The vendor advises us that the original registration mark ‘RT 5169’ is on retention and included in the sale for reallocation once the purchaser has acquired a valid MoT.