LOT 580

Property of a deceased's estate c.1927 Ner-a-Car 350cc Registration no. PH 7625 Frame no. 5221 Engine no. PD3665

Sold for £16,100 inc. premium

Lot 580

Property of a deceased's estate, c.1927 Ner-a-Car 350cc
Registration no. PH 7625 Frame no. 5221 Engine no. PD3665

The Autumn Stafford Sale – The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|16 October 2022, 10:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

Property of a deceased's estate
c.1927 Ner-a-Car 350cc
Registration no. PH 7625
Frame no. 5221
Engine no. PD3665

Despite the demonstrable advantages of hub centre steering and the fact that the system has appeared at regular intervals since motorcycling's earliest days, there had only ever been one machine - before the advent of Yamaha's GTS - that made it into volume production - the Ner-a-Car. Invented by American Carl A Neracher in 1919, the machine was built under licence in the UK by Sheffield Simplex, using part of what had been the Sopwith Aviation works in Kingston-on-Thames. The basic design remained unaltered - pressed-steel chassis, voluminous front mudguard, hub-centre-steering, friction drive transmission - but whereas US-built models were powered by a two-stroke engine of 221cc, Sheffield Simplex chose to fit their own 285cc unit. Four-stroke sidevalve and (later) overhead-valve 350cc Blackburne-engined versions equipped with conventional three-speed gearboxes followed. Endowed with excellent handling and weather protection, the Ner-a-Car was a great success, production only ceasing in 1927 because of problems within other parts of the Sheffield Simplex group.

This Sheffield Simplex-built Ner-a-Car was first registered on 2nd March 1928. The machine was purchased by the late owner in the late 1950s and restored over the next 60 years. Unfortunately, nothing else is known of its history. Offered for re-commissioning and sold strictly as viewed, the machine comes with an old-style continuation logbook (1959) and an old-style V5.
Key not required

Footnotes

All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

Saleroom notices

It has not been possible to locate the frame number.

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.
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