LOT 341

Property of a deceased's estate c.1921 ABC 398cc Registration no. unregistered (see text) Frame no. 3051 Engine no. 3051

Sold for £9,430 inc. premium

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Lot 341

Property of a deceased's estate, c.1921 ABC 398cc

The Spring Stafford Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|21 April 2024, 11:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

Property of a deceased's estate
c.1921 ABC 398cc
Registration no. unregistered (see text)
Frame no. 3051
Engine no. 3051

Designed by Granville Bradshaw and produced by the Sopwith Aircraft Company, the ABC drew heavily on its designer's wartime experience in the development of air-cooled aero engines. A ground-breaking design, the ABC engine was a 398cc overhead-valve flat twin with integral four-speed gearbox. Legend has it that the power unit was designed in under three weeks, but Bradshaw did not stop there, going on to pen the duplex loop frame and sprung front and rear forks that marked out the ABC as one of the most advanced motorcycles of its day. It was fast too, J L E Emerson breaking the one-hour record twice at Brooklands, the second time at an average speed of 70.44mph, a feat that necessitated exceeding 80mph on occasions. Despite these successes, this promising design was hamstrung by production difficulties and price increases, only 3,000-or-so being made up to 1921 when the Sopwith factory ceased manufacture, though production of a modified version was continued by Gnome & Rhone in France.

Although this ABC displays the registration 'XL 4652', that number is not recorded in the DVLA/HPI database. Offered without documents, the machine is an older restoration starting to show its age and is offered for recommissioning (the engine turns over). Notable features include lights, a BTH magneto, and some nickel-plated fittings.
Key not required

Footnotes

All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

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This Lot will be auctioned on Sunday 21 April starting at 11am GMT.

Saleroom notices

There is a copy photograph offered with this lot.

Additional information

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Buyers Premium and Charges
Buyers Premium and Charges
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For Memorabilia and Spares (Lots 1-91) the Buyers Premium is 28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price; 27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000; 21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000 and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
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