1924 Raleigh 2¾hp
Registration no. NY 4703 Frame no. 5754 Engine no. 53835

The Spring Stafford Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|28 April 2019, 10:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1924 Raleigh 2¾hp
Registration no. NY 4703
Frame no. 5754
Engine no. 53835

• Known ownership since 1932
• Last taxed in 1947
• Present ownership since 1988

Britain's best-known and longest-lived bicycle maker, Raleigh also manufactured motorcycles from circa 1902 to 1905, and again from 1919 to 1933. More recently, the Nottingham company offered a range of mopeds plus a scooter in the late 1950s/1960s. Raleigh's first powered two-wheeler looked very much like the contemporary Werner, carrying its engine in front of the steering head with drive being transmitted via belt to a large diameter pulley clipped to the spokes of the front wheel. Already obsolete, that first Raleigh was soon superseded by a range of more conventional machines, the first of which appeared at the 1903 Motor Cycle Show. Sales must have been disappointing though, for only two years later Raleigh announced its complete withdrawal from the motorcycle market. The firm was back immediately after The Great War with a horizontally-opposed inline twin of advanced design, and during the 1920s the Raleigh range would expand to include machines of a wide variety of capacities and types, ranging from a 175cc unitary construction lightweight to a hefty 998cc v-twin. One of the mainstays was the 350cc, 2¾hp model, a compact sidevalve-engined lightweight that, while not devastatingly fast 'flat out', accelerated briskly and handled well by the standards of its day.

This Raleigh '350' was first registered on 11th December 1924 and comes with an old-style continuation logbook issued in April 1932. At that time the machine was registered to one Thomas John Larimore of Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan. On 2nd November 1938 the Raleigh was registered to a neighbour, Clifford Oswald Johns, only to be repurchased by Mr Larimore on 9th October 1946. On 12th June 1988 the machine was sold to the current vendor by Mr W F Jones, a beneficiary of T J Larimore.

'NY 4703' was last taxed in September 1947 and is still resident in Aberdare, all its owners living within a two-mile radius of one another. Amazingly, in February 2019, after checking the magneto and rigging up a slave fuel supply, the vendor was able to start the Raleigh and ride it around the yard! The machine is presented today in totally original and unmolested condition, ripe for sympathetic restoration. Accompanying documentation consists of an old-style V5 and the aforementioned logbook. We are advised by the vendor that the registration 'NY 4703' is recorded in the DVLA database.

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

The engine number is 5383.

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.
Buyers Premium and Charges
For Motorcycles (Lots 201-662) the Buyer's Premium will be 15% on the first £500,000 of the Hammer Price of each Lot, and 12% on the balance thereafter, VAT at the standard rate is payable on the Premium by all Buyers, unless otherwise stated.
Buyer's Premium for Memorabilia and Spares (Lots 1-198) will adhere to Bonhams group policy, the Buyer's Premium is 27.5% on the first £2,500 of the hammer price; 25% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £2,500 up to and including £300,000; 20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £300,000 up to and including £3,000,000 and 13.9% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £3,000,000. This applies to each lot purchased and is subject to VAT. Some lots may be subject to VAT on the hammer price. These lots will be clearly marked with a dagger (†) printed beside the lot number in the catalogue.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import License or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such License or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancelation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.
Storage Notices
Motorcycle Spares and Memorabilia Clearance
All purchased lots must be cleared from the sale venue by 7pm Sunday 28 April 2019. All un-collected purchased lots shall then be removed to Bonhams storage facility at: Bonhams Oxford Banbury Road Shipton on Cherwell Kidlington Oxford OX5 1JH Lots will be available for collection from 10am Thursday 2 May by appointment only.
To arrange collection please contact the Motorcycle Department +44 (0) 20 8963 2817 or [email protected] to make an appointment.
All lots will be charged a minimum of £12+VAT uplift and storage at £1+VAT per day per lot.
All lots marked with a ◊ will be charged £30+VAT uplift and storage at £6+VAT per day per lot.
All lots marked with a ◊◊ will be charged £60+VAT uplift and storage at £12+VAT per day per lot.
All lots marked with a ◊◊◊ will require specific shipping and storage arrangements, as they are either extremely large or heavy objects.
Please contact the Motorcycle Department for detailed information in advance of bidding. Failure to contact the department may result in your purchased lot(s) being uplifted to an offsite store at your expense. Shipping Enquiries: For all motorcycle spares & memorabilia shipping enquiries please contact Alban Shipping quoting your client, sale & lot number to discuss your shipping requirements Tel: +44 (0) 1582 493099 email:
[email protected]
Please note Bonhams do not provide shipping neither do Bonhams pack lots. Should you wish to organise collection of your lots via a third party carrier, they must check and pack lots on your behalf upon collection. Shippers or Agents wishing to collect on behalf of the purchaser must provide written instruction from the client before Bonhams will release the lot(s). All purchases are at the buyers risk from the fall of the hammer.
- Motorcycles