The ex-Peter Taylor, 1958 SSDT, 1956 Royal Enfield 346cc Bullet Trials

Registration no. 620 YUR (see text) Frame no. G2/38564 Engine no. JS13433

• Formerly fitted with a works '500' engine
• Previously owned by Don Morley
• REOC dating letter

Enfield revived the Bullet name in 1948 for a sensational new '350' sports bike with swinging-arm rear suspension. After the prototypes' successful debut in the 1948 Colmore Cup trial, won by Bill Lomas, the Bullet went on to achieve its first major international success in the ISDT later in the year. Royal Enfield's success in post-war trials owed much to its being first in the field with swinging-arm rear suspension, but arguably more to the talents of works rider Johnny Brittain, ably aided by the likes of Tom Ellis, Jack Stocker, Stan Holmes, Don Evans and his younger brother Pat. Despite early works successes in one-day trials, the springer Bullet was viewed with suspicion by the off-road community and sales were sluggish. Fortunately, Enfield's policy of supporting foreign teams at the ISDT, and the fact that between 1948 and 1956 the Bullet won no fewer than 26 ISDT gold medals, ensured a healthy stream of orders, from foreign customers at least. Interestingly, in his book Classic British Trials Bikes, off-road historian Don Morley recounts that it was Enfield's practice to debut a works bike in ISDT form and then convert it for one-day trials. Given its pedigree, it is not surprising that the Bullet is a popular mount in today's Pre-'65 trials, with many original roadsters subsequently being converted for off-road competition use.

Originally registered as '933 HMD', this Bullet Trials was fitted with a works 500cc engine and ridden by Peter Taylor in the 1958 Scottish Six Days Trial (see email from Don Morley and copy photograph on file). Don goes on to say that Peter Taylor was active mainly in South East of England trials until the coming of the Bultacos and other lightweights rendered the Enfield obsolete. Don bought the machine from Peter Taylor circa 1973 "mainly because of the ultra-rare 'Works' engine". Don later sold the Bullet to a friend, Bryan Amos, and bought it back several years later (circa 2000) following Bryan's death. The engine currently installed is a '350', as it was when the machine left the factory in March 1956 bound for an unnamed customer in Hounslow (see REOC dating document on file confirming that this is a genuine Bullet Trials). The machine is offered with a blank V5C/2 New Keepers Supplement only, therefore, the successful purchaser will need to apply for a V5C post sale.