1932 James 499cc Model D2 Grey Ghost

•Rare v-twin model
•One of the last James four-strokes
•An older restoration

Like so many famous and not so famous motorcycle firms, that founded by Harry James in 1880 started out as a bicycle manufacturer. Based initially at Sparkbrook and then Greet in Birmingham, the James Cycle Company built its first motorcycle in 1902. From the mid-1930s onwards James began concentrating on the lightweight two-stroke models for which it is best remembered, but before then the top-of-the-range 499cc v-twin was being built in sidevalve and overhead-valve forms, and there was even a speedway version of the latter. For 1931 these were typed C1 (OHV) and C2 (sidevalve) with the names 'Flying Ace' and 'Grey Ghost' respectively. They were re-designated D1 and D2 the following year. Renamed 'Flying Ghost', the sidevalve v-twin was the last to go, disappearing from the range at the end of 1935.

'YVL 971' was previously sold at Bonhams' Beaulieu sale in September 2015 (Lot 12). At that time we said: "This Model D2 was purchased by the immediately preceding owner's late father some 38 years ago. It would appear that the machine had remained as it was found in the late 1970s and no attempt was made to restore it. The James was offered as an incomplete restoration project at Bonhams' Beaulieu sale in September 2012 (Lot 514) where it was purchased by the current vendor." Our vendor has owned the James since 2022.

In 2015 the James had been offered fresh from refurbishment/restoration, works carried out having included the stripping, repainting and replacement of bearing, chains, brake linings, fastenings, battery, etc. The girder forks were stripped, cleaned and repaired where necessary, then reassembled with new adjustment nuts and grease nipples, etc, while the wheels were rebuilt with stainless steel rims and spokes. The fuel tank was rust-proofed and sealed with ethanol-resistant sealer, then re-sprayed and lacquered. 'YVL 971' also features new Feked silencers and custom-made stainless steel exhaust pipes.

Both cylinders were re-bored and fitted with new pistons and rings, while the obsolete valves with ¼" diameter stems were replaced with Triumph valves with larger-diameter stems and collets. The valve seats were re-cut and the oil pump refurbished by Peter Rosenthal. A reconditioned dynamo and new electronic charging regulator were fitted and the ignition system upgraded to electronic. This new system comprises two pick-ups in the magneto housing (retaining the manual advance/retard mechanism); two trigger units mounted under the fuel tank; two coils under the seat; and an on/off switch on the battery box.

Now, some nine years post-rebuild, this older restoration would benefit from detailing and attention – in particular to the rear grab handle. A rare model, the machine is offered with numerous invoices; some restoration photographs; a substantial quantity of photocopied James literature; copy old V5C and current V5C documents, incorrectly recording the frame number as 'P3388'.