• Present ownership since 1974
• Restoration completed in the 1990s
• Offered from a European private collection

Founded in Acacias, Geneva in 1901, Motosacoche took its name from Henri and Armand Dufaux's self-contained cycle-motor power unit, literally 'une moto sa coche' or 'engine in a bag'. The 211cc motor was soon being manufactured in substantial numbers and the brothers set up a subsidiary firm to market it in the UK. Motosacoche had factories in Switzerland, France and Italy, and supplied their MAG-branded engines to many British and Continental manufacturers, including Brough Superior.

The first machines had an atmospheric inlet valve and battery/coil ignition, and all developments used direct belt drive. Magneto ignition came in 1907 with a neat Cardan shaft driven from a grooved flywheel edge making mistiming a worry of the past.

The Veteran Motosacoche offered here was purchased from Peter Harper by the lady vendor's late husband (a European motorcycle and car collector) in 1974 and restored over the following decades, being completed in the 1990s. The late owner passed away last year and it is not known when the machine was last used. Recommissioning will be required before further use.

The Motosacoche comes with an old-style buff logbook (issued in April 1964) which records the then owner, Stanley Albert Say of Gloucestershire, as having owned it since July 1924. The make is recorded as 'H & A Dufaux'. Three further owners are listed: John Lane Hunt of Surrey (1964); D E Weeks of Surrey (1965); and Alister Murray Reid of Surrey (1967). Also on file are two Pioneer Certificates in the names of Messrs Weeks and Reid, and a tax disc that expired in 1974. The accompanying history file also contains Peter Harper's invoice; a quantity of Gloucester County Council correspondence; Customs papers; various other correspondence; pre- and post-restoration photographs; and copies of magazine articles and marque-related literature. Key not required.

It should be noted the registration number 'DD 5107' associated with this motorcycle has lapsed from the DVLA/HPI databases. Accordingly, the machine is offered unregistered, and prospective bidders must satisfy themselves with regard to the validity of the VRN and the possibility (or not) of retrieving it from the DVLA.

Key not required