LOT 212

The Bob Howard Collection 1933 Rudge 499cc Ulster Registration no. AKN 18 Frame no. 51944 Engine no. 410 (see text)

Sold for £8,625 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

Lot 212

The Bob Howard Collection, 1933 Rudge 499cc Ulster

The Autumn Stafford Sale - The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|12 October 2025, 11:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

The Bob Howard Collection
1933 Rudge 499cc Ulster
Registration no. AKN 18
Frame no. 51944
Engine no. 410 (see text)

This Ulster is well known to the VMCC's Rudge marque specialist, Colin Chapple, as he restored it for previous owner, Chris Deall. 1933 Ulsters are rare machines as the frame and forks are the same as TT Replicas; likewise the engines, which are basically TT Replica with a different cylinder head. Because of this, many 1933 Ulsters have been converted to TT Replicas.

The engine number has a factory mis-stamp behind the '4' where it was stamped with a '5' in error and then over-stamped with a '4' then '10'. Engine number '410' is in sequence and correct for the frame, and this example if one of the last - if not the last - Ulster for 1933. The bike was owned by Chris Deall's father, who courted his mother on it.

This Ulster is highly original, the main departure from factory specification being the handlebars and controls, which should be as on the TT Replica with folding inverted levers. The high-level toolbox was ordered from the factory, as it would have had a low-level toolbox on the same side.

Offered with a V5C and the 2023 purchase invoice, 'AKN 18' displays a total of 458 miles on the odometer, presumably since the aforementioned restoration. Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning to a greater or lesser extent and thus is sold strictly as viewed (inspection highly recommended). Offered with a detached chain guard, tank rubbers, associated small spares and plates, and a substantial quantity of invoices and Rudge literature.
Key not required

Footnotes

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Please see the Auction Information and Guide for Buyers at the top of the main sale page, for bidders' obligations. The Autumn Stafford Sale

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This Lot will be auctioned on Sunday 12 October, with the auction starting at 11am GMT.

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