LOT 543 N
1971 Münch Mammoth 1200 TTS Registration no. not UK registered Frame no. 146 Engine no. to be advised
Estimate: £90,000 - £120,000
Lot 543N
1971 Münch Mammoth 1200 TTSRegistration no. not UK registered Frame no. 146 Engine no. to be advised
1971 Münch Mammoth 1200 TTS
Registration no. not UK registered
Frame no. 146
Engine no. to be advised
Registration no. not UK registered
Frame no. 146
Engine no. to be advised
• Ultra-rare limited-edition superbike
• Hand built to individual customer order
• Registered in Germany
In 1965 Freidl Münch, formerly with the Horex racing department, was approached by wealthy French ex-sidecar racer Jean Murit with a simple brief: build a no-expense-spared 'superbike', though the latter term had yet to be coined. Münch found his ideal engine in the form of the air-cooled overhead-camshaft four powering the recently introduced NSU Prinz car. For Murit's machine he used the 1,000cc TT sports version of this engine which, tuned for 60bhp, proved capable of propelling the bulky Mammoth to a top speed of 120mph. Nothing too remarkable there you might think, but while several contemporary production motorcycles could achieve a similar maximum, it was the Mammoth's ability to accelerate powerfully from 20mph in top gear and cruise all day at 110mph that set it apart from the herd.
The engine was housed in a cradle frame inspired by the Manx Norton, and to keep the weight down Münch made extensive use of Elektron magnesium alloy, which was used for the gearbox shell, rear chain case, fork sliders, and brakes. The result was a commendably low dry weight for the prototype of 433lbs, though production versions would weigh considerably more. Elephant Rally founder and Das Motorrad journalist Ernst Leverkus rode the bike in 1966, and the resulting worldwide publicity provoked a rush of orders. The production Mammoth (the name would later be dropped for copyright reasons) first appeared at the Cologne Show in September 1966, by which time the capacity had risen to 1,085cc, power to 70bhp and the top speed close on 140mph. Hand built to individual customer order, the Mammoth eventually used the 1,177cc version of the NSU four with power outputs of up to 104bhp.
Founder of Cycle magazine and publisher of the eponymous motorcycle manuals, American entrepreneur Floyd Clymer (1895-1970) invested in Münch, marketing the machine in the USA as the 'Clymer-Münch Mammoth' with the slogan: 'Built up to a standard, not down to a price'. And the hand-built Mammoth was certainly very expensive, selling in the USA for $3,995 when the BMW R69S cost only $1,695. It is estimated that some 500 Mammoths had been made when production ceased in 1975. This Lot is offered with a Deutsch Brief.
• Hand built to individual customer order
• Registered in Germany
In 1965 Freidl Münch, formerly with the Horex racing department, was approached by wealthy French ex-sidecar racer Jean Murit with a simple brief: build a no-expense-spared 'superbike', though the latter term had yet to be coined. Münch found his ideal engine in the form of the air-cooled overhead-camshaft four powering the recently introduced NSU Prinz car. For Murit's machine he used the 1,000cc TT sports version of this engine which, tuned for 60bhp, proved capable of propelling the bulky Mammoth to a top speed of 120mph. Nothing too remarkable there you might think, but while several contemporary production motorcycles could achieve a similar maximum, it was the Mammoth's ability to accelerate powerfully from 20mph in top gear and cruise all day at 110mph that set it apart from the herd.
The engine was housed in a cradle frame inspired by the Manx Norton, and to keep the weight down Münch made extensive use of Elektron magnesium alloy, which was used for the gearbox shell, rear chain case, fork sliders, and brakes. The result was a commendably low dry weight for the prototype of 433lbs, though production versions would weigh considerably more. Elephant Rally founder and Das Motorrad journalist Ernst Leverkus rode the bike in 1966, and the resulting worldwide publicity provoked a rush of orders. The production Mammoth (the name would later be dropped for copyright reasons) first appeared at the Cologne Show in September 1966, by which time the capacity had risen to 1,085cc, power to 70bhp and the top speed close on 140mph. Hand built to individual customer order, the Mammoth eventually used the 1,177cc version of the NSU four with power outputs of up to 104bhp.
Founder of Cycle magazine and publisher of the eponymous motorcycle manuals, American entrepreneur Floyd Clymer (1895-1970) invested in Münch, marketing the machine in the USA as the 'Clymer-Münch Mammoth' with the slogan: 'Built up to a standard, not down to a price'. And the hand-built Mammoth was certainly very expensive, selling in the USA for $3,995 when the BMW R69S cost only $1,695. It is estimated that some 500 Mammoths had been made when production ceased in 1975. This Lot is offered with a Deutsch Brief.
Footnotes
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Saleroom notices
We are unable to locate an engine number.
Additional information
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Auction Viewings
- 28 April 2001, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
- 27 April 2019, 09:00 - 18:00 BST
Lot symbols
| N | NOVA declaration |
| If purchased by a UK resident, this machine is subject to a NOVA declaration, whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee of £350 + VAT to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice. |
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