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Auction archive: Lot number 415

1933 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50hp Registration no. TV 8327 Frame no. 8/1232 Engine no. LDZ 38032 SE

Estimate
£0
Price realised:
£24,150
ca. US$35,491
Auction archive: Lot number 415

1933 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50hp Registration no. TV 8327 Frame no. 8/1232 Engine no. LDZ 38032 SE

Estimate
£0
Price realised:
£24,150
ca. US$35,491
Beschreibung:

Legendary superbike of motorcycling’s between-the-wars ‘Golden Age’, the Brough Superior was synonymous with high performance, engineering excellence and quality of finish. That such a formidable reputation was forged by a motorcycle constructed almost entirely from bought-in components says much for the publicity skills of George Brough. But if ever a machine was more than the sum of its parts, it was the Brough Superior. Always the perfectionist, Brough bought only the best available components for his motorcycles, reasoning that if the product was right, a lofty price tag would be no handicap. And in the ‘Roaring Twenties’ there were sufficient wealthy connoisseurs around to prove him right, T E Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) being the most famous example. The speed with which the name ‘Brough Superior’ established itself as synonymous with excellence may be gauged from the fact that the famous ‘Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles’ sobriquet was first coined in 1921 when the marque was barely two years old. The story goes that Rolls-Royce objected to their name being associated with a mere motorcycle - until they examined one of George’s creations. Launched in 1933, the 1,096cc 11-50 was the largest Brough Superior to enter series production. Powered by a sidevalve v-twin (of unusual 60-degree configuration) supplied exclusively to the Nottingham factory by J A Prestwich, the 11-50 fitted into the Brough price range between the SS80 touring and SS100 super-sports models. The 11-50 was conceived as a long-legged, effortless tourer and could exceed 90mph in solo form or pull a heavy sidecar at up to 75mph; indeed, in the latter role it was one of the finest sidecar mounts of its day. Production lasted until 1939, by which time the 11-50 was the only JAP-powered machine in the Brough Superior range. This 11-50 has the rigid frame and Monarch front fork that characterised the ‘standard’ offering for sidecar use (Castle forks and rear suspension were options). Complete with Brough’s ‘own saloon’ sidecar, the machine was despatched on 5th June 1934 and (presumably) sold new via G K Rae Ltd, of Chiswick, whose dealer place remains fixed to the rear mudguard. Originally fitted with engine number ‘30874’, it is currently fitted with engine number ‘38032’, which formed part of another 11-50 completed in 1933 and presumed scrapped (see copy record cards on file). An older restoration, ‘TV 8327’ is presented in generally very good condition and offered with MoT to March 2010 and Swansea V5C registration document.

Auction archive: Lot number 415
Auction:
Datum:
26 Apr 2009
Auction house:
Bonhams London
Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground Staffordshire County Showground Weston Road Stafford ST18 0BD Tel: +44 207 447 7447 Fax : +44 207 447 7401 info@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

Legendary superbike of motorcycling’s between-the-wars ‘Golden Age’, the Brough Superior was synonymous with high performance, engineering excellence and quality of finish. That such a formidable reputation was forged by a motorcycle constructed almost entirely from bought-in components says much for the publicity skills of George Brough. But if ever a machine was more than the sum of its parts, it was the Brough Superior. Always the perfectionist, Brough bought only the best available components for his motorcycles, reasoning that if the product was right, a lofty price tag would be no handicap. And in the ‘Roaring Twenties’ there were sufficient wealthy connoisseurs around to prove him right, T E Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) being the most famous example. The speed with which the name ‘Brough Superior’ established itself as synonymous with excellence may be gauged from the fact that the famous ‘Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles’ sobriquet was first coined in 1921 when the marque was barely two years old. The story goes that Rolls-Royce objected to their name being associated with a mere motorcycle - until they examined one of George’s creations. Launched in 1933, the 1,096cc 11-50 was the largest Brough Superior to enter series production. Powered by a sidevalve v-twin (of unusual 60-degree configuration) supplied exclusively to the Nottingham factory by J A Prestwich, the 11-50 fitted into the Brough price range between the SS80 touring and SS100 super-sports models. The 11-50 was conceived as a long-legged, effortless tourer and could exceed 90mph in solo form or pull a heavy sidecar at up to 75mph; indeed, in the latter role it was one of the finest sidecar mounts of its day. Production lasted until 1939, by which time the 11-50 was the only JAP-powered machine in the Brough Superior range. This 11-50 has the rigid frame and Monarch front fork that characterised the ‘standard’ offering for sidecar use (Castle forks and rear suspension were options). Complete with Brough’s ‘own saloon’ sidecar, the machine was despatched on 5th June 1934 and (presumably) sold new via G K Rae Ltd, of Chiswick, whose dealer place remains fixed to the rear mudguard. Originally fitted with engine number ‘30874’, it is currently fitted with engine number ‘38032’, which formed part of another 11-50 completed in 1933 and presumed scrapped (see copy record cards on file). An older restoration, ‘TV 8327’ is presented in generally very good condition and offered with MoT to March 2010 and Swansea V5C registration document.

Auction archive: Lot number 415
Auction:
Datum:
26 Apr 2009
Auction house:
Bonhams London
Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground Staffordshire County Showground Weston Road Stafford ST18 0BD Tel: +44 207 447 7447 Fax : +44 207 447 7401 info@bonhams.com
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