LOT 709
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection 1930 Brough Superior OHV 680 'Black Alpine' (see text) Registration no. JO 2055 Frame no. 5/1105 (see text) Engine no. GTO/H 13694/S
Estimate: £120,000 - £160,000
Lot 709
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection, 1930 Brough Superior OHV 680 'Black Alpine' (see text)Registration no. JO 2055 Frame no. 5/1105 (see text) Engine no. GTO/H 13694/S
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection
1930 Brough Superior OHV 680 'Black Alpine' (see text)
Registration no. JO 2055
Frame no. 5/1105 (see text)
Engine no. GTO/H 13694/S
1930 Brough Superior OHV 680 'Black Alpine' (see text)
Registration no. JO 2055
Frame no. 5/1105 (see text)
Engine no. GTO/H 13694/S
• The ultimate middleweight Brough
• Restored in the late 1970s/early 1980s
• Owned by the NMM since 1995
With the SS80 and SS100 well established, it was decided to add a smaller and cheaper alternative to the Brough Superior range. JAP was already producing a 674cc sidevalve v-twin engine and this unit, redesigned with overhead valves, went into Brough's new 'Overhead 680'. Launched at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in 1926, the 'Miniature SS100', as George Brough called it, entered production for 1927. The new middleweight Brough was an instant success and for 1930 was joined by a version to higher specification. First seen at the 1929 Motorcycle Show, the newcomer was dubbed 'Black Alpine 680', a reference to the lavishly equipped SS100 Alpine Grand Sports and the fact that the newcomer boasted a distinctive all-black eggshell finish. Principal mechanical difference from the standard Overhead 680 was the adoption of the patented Bentley & Draper sprung frame.
Built as a standard Overhead 680, this machine was despatched from the factory on 16th March 1931 bound for Layton's of Oxford and first owned by one Alan William Massey of Watford, Hertfordshire. The Brough Club first heard of this machine in 1981 when it was listed as owned in Birmingham.
Colin Wall, the National Motorcycle Museum's restorer, discovered this Brough around 1976 in a council lockup garage. Colin was told by the seller that the machine had come from the Birmingham suburb of Handsworth where he had found it in a garden. It had a box sidecar attached and had been used by a window cleaner. Colin bought the Brough and a Sunbeam Model 2 for £900 in total, the Brough costing £700...
The Brough was in very poor condition and it took five years to acquire missing parts and complete the restoration. The engine, gearbox and clutch were fully rebuilt (one of the cylinder barrels, which had cracked, being replaced) and a new fuel tank made by a craftsman in Nottingham. Extensive repairs enabled the original tinware to be retained, while the crash bars currently fitted were in place when purchased.
Colin completed the rebuild in 1981 and sold the Brough to NMM founder Roy Richards around 1995. Roy wanted a machine to Black Alpine specification, so twin headlights were fitted. The Brough was started on a regular basis but not used on the road.
'JO 2055' is recorded with the DVLA as being registered in June 1982 as a 1931 model. The HPI check sheet is on file but there is no V5C present.
It should be noted that in addition to the original factory frame number stamp on the headstock, number '1195' has also been stamped on the front downtube, and that the gearbox is not the original to this machine. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding.
• Restored in the late 1970s/early 1980s
• Owned by the NMM since 1995
With the SS80 and SS100 well established, it was decided to add a smaller and cheaper alternative to the Brough Superior range. JAP was already producing a 674cc sidevalve v-twin engine and this unit, redesigned with overhead valves, went into Brough's new 'Overhead 680'. Launched at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in 1926, the 'Miniature SS100', as George Brough called it, entered production for 1927. The new middleweight Brough was an instant success and for 1930 was joined by a version to higher specification. First seen at the 1929 Motorcycle Show, the newcomer was dubbed 'Black Alpine 680', a reference to the lavishly equipped SS100 Alpine Grand Sports and the fact that the newcomer boasted a distinctive all-black eggshell finish. Principal mechanical difference from the standard Overhead 680 was the adoption of the patented Bentley & Draper sprung frame.
Built as a standard Overhead 680, this machine was despatched from the factory on 16th March 1931 bound for Layton's of Oxford and first owned by one Alan William Massey of Watford, Hertfordshire. The Brough Club first heard of this machine in 1981 when it was listed as owned in Birmingham.
Colin Wall, the National Motorcycle Museum's restorer, discovered this Brough around 1976 in a council lockup garage. Colin was told by the seller that the machine had come from the Birmingham suburb of Handsworth where he had found it in a garden. It had a box sidecar attached and had been used by a window cleaner. Colin bought the Brough and a Sunbeam Model 2 for £900 in total, the Brough costing £700...
The Brough was in very poor condition and it took five years to acquire missing parts and complete the restoration. The engine, gearbox and clutch were fully rebuilt (one of the cylinder barrels, which had cracked, being replaced) and a new fuel tank made by a craftsman in Nottingham. Extensive repairs enabled the original tinware to be retained, while the crash bars currently fitted were in place when purchased.
Colin completed the rebuild in 1981 and sold the Brough to NMM founder Roy Richards around 1995. Roy wanted a machine to Black Alpine specification, so twin headlights were fitted. The Brough was started on a regular basis but not used on the road.
'JO 2055' is recorded with the DVLA as being registered in June 1982 as a 1931 model. The HPI check sheet is on file but there is no V5C present.
It should be noted that in addition to the original factory frame number stamp on the headstock, number '1195' has also been stamped on the front downtube, and that the gearbox is not the original to this machine. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding.
Saleroom notices
As per the main body text in the catalogue, this example was built in 1931. The catalogue incorrectly states the frame number as 5/1195. The correct frame number is 5/1105. Please click the link to view the walkaround video of Lot 709: click here
Additional information
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