LOT 81

1925 Gnome & Rhône 499cc Model D Frame no. 15655

Sold for €7,475 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

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Lot 81

1925 Gnome & Rhône 499cc Model D

Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris|1 February 2024, 12:30 CET|Paris, The Grand Palais Historique

1925 Gnome & Rhône 499cc Model D
Frame no. 15655

• Single engineer owner since 1984
• Restored condition
• Proceeds from the sale to be donated to the 'Heinz Sielmann Stiftung' and the 'DGzRS' charities

One of the most famous aero engine manufacturers of WWI, Gnome & Rhône introduced its first motorcycle in 1919, building the Granville Bradshaw-designed ABC under licence. In 1923 the firm introduced single-cylinder power units of its own manufacture, pioneering the use of unitary construction for the engine/gearbox.

Our vendor, a retired engineer, purchased this Gnome & Rhône in 1984 in France as a restoration project. He commissioned a German company to comprehensively overhaul the engine and gearbox, and to restore the rest of the machine as authentically as possible. The carburettor is the original brass instrument, the electrics are in full working order, and the tyres have been replaced, while the exhaust is made from stainless steel. The vendor is selling the motorcycle due to his advancing years and generously will donate the proceeds to two charities close to his heart: one is the German 'Heinz Sielmann Stiftung', a charity devoted to the protection of natural habitats and the promotion of biodiversity in Germany, which was founded in 1994 by the well-known German wildlife photographer, zoologist and documentary film-maker Heinz Sielmann and his wife Inge. The other charity is the 'DGzRS', the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service, which is responsible for maritime search and rescue operations in the German waters of the North Sea and Baltic sea.

The machine is offered with an old Certificat d'Immatriculation dated 1984, an original brochure from 1932, and various technical drawings. An incomplete spare engine and spare silencer are included in the sale.

Footnotes

1925 Gnome & Rhône 499cc Model D
Cadre n° 15655

Très célèbre fabricant de moteurs d'avion du temps de la Première Guerre mondiale, Gnome & Rhône présenta sa première moto en 1919, l'ABC conçue par Granville Bradshaw, qu'il construisit sous licence. Puis la firme introduisit des monocylindres de son cru, qui initièrent l'architecture moteur/boîte sous carter commun.

Notre vendeur, un ingénieur retraité, acheta en 1984 cette Gnome & Rhône en France en tant que projet de restauration. Il chargea une entreprise allemande de refaire complètement le moteur et la boîte et de restaurer le reste de la moto de façon aussi authentique que possible. Le carburateur est celui d'origine, en laiton, la totalité du circuit électrique fonctionne, les pneus ont été remplacés et l'échappement a été réalisé en inox. Il met la moto en vente maintenant qu'il a pris de l'âge et va généreusement faire don du produit de la vente à deux œuvres qu'il affectionne. L'une est la Heinz Sielmann Stiftung, une œuvre allemande qui se consacre en Allemagne à la protection des habitats naturels et à la promotion de la biodiversité. Elle a été fondée en 1994 par deux Allemands, le photographe animalier, zoologiste et auteur de documentaires bien connu Heinz Sielmann, et sa femme Inge. L'autre œuvre est la DGzRS, l'office allemand de recherches et de sauvetage en mer, qui est chargé des opérations de recherche et de secours dans les eaux allemandes de la Mer du Nord et de la Baltique.

Cette moto est proposée munie d'un ancien certificat d'immatriculation datant de 1984, d'une brochure originale de 1932 et de divers dessins techniques. Font également partie de la vente un moteur et un silencieux de rechange, tous deux incomplets.

Saleroom notices

The engine number is 15655. We were unable to locate the frame number.

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