Some info from Bonhams, who are selling a 1920s `Superbike’ amongst many other classic machines at Stafford this April;
bonhams to sell legendary 1920s ’superbike’ at the classic motorcycle show
Following on from its outstanding success in selling the Houseley Collection’s 1928 McEvoy-JAP (£67,600, Stafford, October 2005), Bonhams will sell a magnificent 1924 Montgomery 8/38hp v-twin on 23 April 2006 at The Classic MotorCycle Show in Stafford.
A rare example of one of the most famous British ’superbikes’ of the 1920s, the Montgomery, has been in the present owner’s hands for the past 29 years, having been owned previously by an elderly gentleman in the North Kent area. The vendor, a professional restorer for over 40 years, is the proprietor of world famous Vincent specialists Conway Motors.
Conway’s services are greatly in demand, which explains why this painstaking restoration, completed in January 2006 to concours standard, has taken so long to finish.
Like many of his contemporaries, including rivals Brough and McEvoy, William J Montgomery relied heavily on proprietary components, although the frame and forks were manufactured in-house. Montgomery supplied frames and its own sprung fork to George Brough in the latter’s early days.
In this v-twin’s case, components used include Enfield hubs, Sturmey-Archer gearbox and clutch, and a 997cc Anzani engine. The 57-degree, 8-valve unit was manufactured by British Anzani - the UK offshoot of the original French company established at Courbevoie, Paris in 1907 to manufacture aero engines.
A Morgan fitted with one of these Anzani engines set two world records in 1922, while Anzani’s overhead-camshaft v-twin was used by Claude Temple to set several motorcycle world speed records, the fastest at over 120mph.
The Montgomery was displayed on Bonhams’ stand at the Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show on 11 and 12 February 2006 and attracted some of the biggest crowds and the attention of countless photographers, both amateur and professional.
Bonhams will be displaying this wonderful machine (estimate £55,000-£65,000) on two further occasions prior to the Stafford Sale: at The International Historic Motorsport Show, Stoneleigh on 24, 25, 26 February and at the finish of the Pioneer Run, Brighton on 19 March.
Further entries to the sale are being invited by Bonhams specialists. For more information please contact Ben Walker on +44 (0)8700 273616.
(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)
