Property of the late Warrick Blackwell; the ex-Barry Randle, 1970 Seeley 497cc G50 Mk3 Project

Frame no. MK3 CS32 Engine no. CS/24

• Known ownership history from new
• Matching frame/engine numbers
• Present ownership since 1992
• Requires re-commissioning/restoration

Many-times British sidecar champion Colin Seeley bought Associated Motor Cycles' racing department when the company went into receivership in 1966. The previous year he had constructed the first Seeley racing frame to house a Matchless G50 engine, and the AMC purchase enabled him to produce complete Seeley G50 and 7R machines. With their improved frames, the ageing four-stroke singles enjoyed renewed competitiveness, Dave Croxford winning the British 500 Championship on a Seeley G50 in 1968 and '69. The Seeley frame progressed from the duplex cradle Mk1 to the similar but lighter Mk2, before the down-tubes were abandoned with the Mk3, the headstock and swinging arm pivot of which were linked solely by tubes running diagonally above the engine. The Mk4 introduced towards the end of 1970 featured a revised tubing layout and continued in production until 1973. Production of Seeley frames was later licensed to Roger Titchmarsh and there have been countless unauthorised copies made over the years.

A letter on file from former Classic Racer editor Malcolm Wheeler states that this Seeley G50 was built for Barry Randle, who sold it to club-racer Martin Bland from Sleaford. (Colin Seeley's letter confirming the machine's sale to Barry Randle is on file.) Martin Bland sold the Seeley to John Borsberry, who, like Malcolm Wheeler, was sponsored by Freddie Frith at that time. When John Borsberry retired, Malcolm Wheeler acquired the Seeley in 1974 in a deal with Freddie Frith. Malcolm raced the Seeley on short circuits and at the Manx Grand Prix before selling it in 1982 to Vin Duckett. Warrick Blackwell bought the Seeley from Vin Duckett in 1992.

In his letter to Warrick Blackwell, Vin Ducket states that he overhauled everything and that the machine had never let him down, its career highlights including 4th at the 1989 Classic TT; 10th at the 1990 Southern 100; 8th at the 1991 Classic TT; and 3rd at the 1991 Southern 100. Warrick continued to ride and display the Seeley at various classic motorcycling events and venues.

The machine appears mostly complete apart from the missing fuel tank however prospective bidders must satisfy themselves as to its completeness before biding. Having been standing unused for a considerable length of time, the motorcycle will require re-commissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent and thus is sold strictly as viewed.

The Seeley is offered with a CRMC Machine Registration Certificate (1992); sundry bills; various photographs; a number of motorcycling magazines and event programmes; and a large quantity of fascinating marque-related correspondence and literature (inspection highly recommended). A small collection of spares is also included in the sale.
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