1967 Velocette 499cc Thruxton

• Restoration started and now offered in need of completion
• Only two owners in the last 56 years
• Fitted in period with a Dodkin alloy top yoke and Tickle front brake

Production race successes, notably in the Thruxton 500 Mile event prompted Veloce Ltd to adopt that name for their newly introduced top-of-the-range sports roadster in 1964. Based on the existing Venom, the Thruxton featured a tuned engine with revised, big-valve cylinder head, Amal GP carburettor, clip-on handlebars, rear-set footrests and a twin-leading-shoe front brake as standard equipment. Although much admired by the café racing fraternity, the Thruxton's necessarily high price limited its appeal to a select handful of wealthy connoisseurs. It is thought that as few as 1,000 were made, and today the Thruxton is one of the most sought after of post-war Velocettes.

This Thruxton remained in the same ownership from December 1967 when it was purchased by a Mr. Addison of Watford, Hertfordshire, from Geoff Dodkin for £265 until the current owner acquired it at auction in July 2022 as a barn find and restoration project. According to the Thruxton Machine Registrar, Ray Thurston, factory records indicate that this machine was dispatched from the factory on 28th February 1966 to Commerfords of Thames Ditton. The first owner, Mr. D. A. Cole of Barnhurst, Kent, bought it on 1st April 1966, from Steven's of London. In June 1967, Geoff Dodkin fitted a factory replacement frame. The engine, with serial number VMT 310, and the gearbox, with serial number 12-11888, are a matching pair according to the records.

When purchased by the vendor, the original green VE60 logbook was present, noting the machine as 'Built Up' and registered for the first time in June 1967, presumably when the replacement frame was fitted (unfortunately, the logbook and related paperwork have been misplaced). Geoff Dodkin, a renowned Velocette tuner and retailer, produced several Thruxton motorcycles to customer specifications, this example featuring the Dodkin alloy top yoke and Tickle front brake. Despite sitting unused since the early 1970s, the motorcycle appeared to be complete and earlier this year the vendor initiated the restoration, which has included rebuilding the engine (by Tony Mortimer) and gearbox, as well as having the forks rebuilt by Jake Robbins Vintage Engineering. The motorcycle is described as having very good paintwork and electrics but is offered in need of completion and is sold strictly as viewed. The motorcycle comes with a V5C, a Velocette Thruxton Machine Register dating letter, and photographic images of the Dodkin bill of sale and the front page of the VE60 logbook.