The Green House Farm Collection, 1911 Royal Enfield 325cc Twin (see text)

• Purchased in the early 1970s and stored
• Restored in the mid 2000s
• Has since completed several Pioneer Runs

The origins of the Royal Enfield marque can be traced back to a small light engineering firm - George Townsend & Company - founded in Redditch, Worcestershire, in mid-Victorian times. The firm moved into bicycle manufacture and by the turn of the Century had been reorganised as the Enfield Cycle Company, makers of the 'Royal Enfield'. The Redditch company built its first powered vehicles - De Dion-engined tricycles and quadricycles - in the closing years of the 19th Century, and its first motorcycles around 1900. By 1904 the firm was concentrating on car production, resuming motorcycle manufacture in 1910 with a 2¼hp v-twin Motosacoche-powered lightweight. A 2¾hp version with two-speed gear and all-chain drive followed. The famous JAP v-twin-engined 6hp sidecar outfit joined the range for 1912, and the firm continued the v-twin theme with a new 3hp solo for 1913, the latter being powered by Enfield's own 425cc inlet-over-exhaust engine, which was raced successfully in 350cc form.

This early Royal Enfield was purchased by the vendor's late father (Geoffrey Pollard) in the early 1970s. The machine stood for 35 years until it was finally restored in the mid 2000s, and completed its inaugural Pioneer Run from London to Brighton run in 2009, ridden by his daughter. As part of the restoration, the vendor advises the magneto was reconditioned and the engine stripped and rebuilt with new valves, guides, main bearings and piston rings. The Enfield has since completed several Pioneer Runs.

The machine has been kept in heated, dry storage with all fuel drained and carburettors cleaned following each use. Although not used very often in recent years, it has been periodically started. The vendor is thinning down his collection, hence the reason for sale. Accompanying documents include a Pioneer Certificate, an expired (2014) tax disc and a current V5C.

It should be noted that the Sunbeam MCC's Pioneer Certificate records the engine number as '2CV126302' (actually '2CIV26302') and the engine capacity as 325cc, whereas the V5C records the capacity as 346cc. Prospective purchasers must therefore satisfy themselves with regard to the engine's capacity prior to bidding.
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