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LOT 216

From the estate of the late Dave Benson 1931 Francis-Barnett 196cc Falcon Model 31 Registration no. Unregistered (see text) Frame no. C26318 Engine no. KZS3667

Sold for £1,265 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 216

From the estate of the late Dave Benson, 1931 Francis-Barnett 196cc Falcon Model 31

From the estate of the late Dave Benson
1931 Francis-Barnett 196cc Falcon Model 31
Registration no. Unregistered (see text)
Frame no. C26318
Engine no. KZS3667

Founded by Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett, Francis-Barnett set up shop in the old Excelsior works in Coventry in 1919. The downturn in the motorcycle market in the early 1920s prompted F-B to switch from producing expensive, high quality machines to the more utilitarian. First seen in 1923, the first of these was the triangulated, pin-jointed, straight-tube frame models whose novel method of construction gave rise to the 'Built Like A Bridge' advertising slogan. To publicise its new models, F-B turned to racer Tommy Meeten, founder of the British Two-Stroke Club. For Meeten's Brooklands campaign a machine was constructed using Villiers' recently announced 172cc Sports engine. Villiers was much more actively involved with the production of sports and racing engines in the between-the-wars years than they would be after WW2, and the Sports was the first of a family of 172cc and 196cc high-performance engines. Riding the special Francis-Barnetts, Meeten set several speed records for the '175' class and won numerous races at Brooklands. Capitalising on his successes, Villiers introduced further evolutions of the Sports engine in the form of the Brooklands and Super Sports TT units.

Unfortunately, little is known about this rare Super Sports-engined Francis-Barnett Falcon Model 31. Despite displaying the registration 'KJ 331' (which appears on the HPI database) neither the frame or engine numbers correlate with the VRN, hence it is offered unregistered. The machine is offered with a selection of photographs and some other material.

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 13 October starting at 11am GMT.

Saleroom notices

Please note the machine is offered for restoration.

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  • 12 October 2024, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
  • 13 October 2024, 09:00 - 17:00 BST

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