The Anthony R. East Classic Motorcycle Collection; Formerly the property of O B ('Bert') Greeves, MBE, 1963 Greeves 246cc 24DDS Sports Single Prototype

• The sole 24DDS prototype made
• Kept by Bert Greeves until 1993
• Known ownership history
• Restored on the 2000s
• Acquired by Tony East in 2007

Greeves' unorthodox trademarks of a cast beam 'down-tube' and rubber-in-torsion leading-link fork proved adaptable to almost all forms of motorcycle from humble commuter to clubman's road-racer, but it was the firm's off-road products which really put it on the map, generating valuable publicity that helped sell the roadsters.

Offered here is a Greeves Sports Single variant that never made it into production: the 24DDS. Intended as a 100mph 250cc roadster, and built in the competitions department, the 24DDS was powered by a Villiers 36A-based engine fitted with Greeves' own Challenger competition top-end, also used in its scrambles models and the Silverstone road-racer. The frame used the Silverstone main beam and the steering angle was improved by a straight top-tube, while competition-type strengthening gussets were fitted to the leading-link front suspension. Unfortunately, the model was judged too expensive to be a success, and production never got beyond this solitary prototype.

First registered to Greeves' parent company Invacar Ltd on 5th April 1963, this prototype is the only example made and was later registered to 'O B Greeves MBE' (see the original old-style buff logbook and copy old V5 on file). It is believed that Bert's nephew had an accident on the machine which damaged the front wheel, and it was then repaired and laid up until Bert's death in 1993, aged 87. At this point the 24DDS was inherited by Greeves authority Andrew King, who kept the machine in storage until it was purchased in 2002 by Graham Mitchell. Graham restored the Greeves and then sold it on to the immediately preceding owner, David Pink.

Tony East acquired the ex-Bert Greeves 24DDS at a UK auction in November 2007. In 2010 the machine was featured in an article in The Classic MotorCycle by Richard Rosenthal (January edition). A partial copy of the article is on file and this unique piece of Greeves' history also comes with a copy of the works record; five MoTs (most recent expired 2011); and old/current V5C Registration Certificates. A framed display board of the aforementioned logbook copies, ownership history and specifications is included in the sale.