1923 Douglas 595cc 4HP
Registration no. YA 5352 Frame no. 15478 Engine no. 14393

The Spring Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|23 April 2022, 10:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1923 Douglas 595cc 4HP
Registration no. YA 5352
Frame no. 15478
Engine no. 14393

The Douglas flat twin, built in the Hanham Road works in the Kingswood area of Bristol, enjoyed a fine reputation enhanced by first and second places in the 1912 Isle of Man TT Junior class. The name was further improved with a government contract for 25,000 of the military version following the outbreak of the 1914-18 World War. In the 1920s the company was honoured with a Royal Warrant to supply motorcycles to the Princes Albert and Henry and in 1923 the sporting reputation was confirmed with domination of the TT: third in the 350cc Junior race, first in the 500cc Senior event and victory in the very first Sidecar TT.

Owned by the same family of engineers since 1953, this rare example of the 4HP Douglas was restored by the vendor's father soon after purchase and it is a tribute to the quality of his work that the machine has not been further restored. First used as occasional pleasure transport by the man who had competed on Douglas machines in both grass track and scrambles in the 1930s, it served its new owner well until it was exhibited in the Local Business Area of Bristol Museum from 1958 to 1972. It was inherited by his son in 1975 and has been used for pleasure rides until recent times, being last ridden in 2020. It has been garaged and occasionally started since then and will require a thorough check before taking to the roads again.
Offered without key

Footnotes

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Saleroom notices

There are two old-style logbooks offered with this lot.

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