1935 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50 with Brough petrol-tube sidecar chassis and Watsonian Avon sports 'chair'

•Originally supplied as a motorcycle combination to Nottingham Constabulary
•Formerly the property of VMCC founder C E A 'Titch' Allen
•Extensively restored
•Enthusiastically campaigned

This 11-50 is one of a batch of six identical sidecar outfits supplied new to Nottingham City Police which were registered 'BAU 4' to 'BAU 9' (inclusive) and saw several years of active police service. The machine is currently being ridden as a solo but comes with a Brough petrol-tube sidecar chassis (number '123') and a 1961 Watsonian Avon sports sidecar (number 'N1636') together with the fuel tank that was fitted to the machine. The current fuel tank ('2821') is a replica made in 2009.

Frame and engine serial numbers both match the Brough works records. NB: the engine number is incorrectly stated in the V5C; this appears to be a historical error and is documented by the Brough Superior Club ('1/5Y41', which appears an interpretation of engine 45741 in the sister bike 'BAU 7'. The copy of the old-style V5 also records the frame number for 'BAU 7', but this has been corrected in subsequent documentation). The frame number is also missing the '8/' in the V5C.

In the 1950s the Brough was resident in neighbouring Derbyshire in the ownership of a Mr Matchett of Alfreston (see insurance schedules on file, one of which is stamped by Dawson Motors of Nottingham) and later in Yorkshire (1960s). In 1971, 'BAU 8' was purchased by the vendor's father from C E A 'Titch' Allen, founder of the VMCC. 'BAU 8' occasionally appeared at club events and then was handed down from father to enthusiastic son in 2005, at which point various remedial works were carried out.

It was at the Brough Superior Club's 50th anniversary in 2008, when 'BAU 8' was put alongside three of the other BAUs that the current owner saw the true beauty of the 11-50, at which point a careful and sympathetic strip down and rebuild was started. Many original parts were sourced from the BSC, while the engine's bottom end had a thorough restoration by both Alpha Bearings and Merlin Engineering. Works carried out up to the present date are too numerous to list. The frame has an old repair and was straightened by marque Dave Clarke as part of the rebuild.

'BAU 8' has been on many club events, the last one in May 2023. According to our vendor the machine runs exceptionally well and is a joy to ride, usually starting second kick and sometimes first (please remember to retard the ignition). The current V5C and copy of the 1979 V5 on file together with a substantial body of correspondence.