Offered from the estate of the late Neil Redley, 1968/1998 Velocette 499cc Street Scrambler

• Unique prototype
• Built by Simon Goodman
• Current ownership since 2007
• Featured in The Classic MotorCycle

Almost 30 years after the Hall Green factory closed, Veloce Ltd founder's great grandson Simon Goodman built one last machine: the Venom-based Street Scrambler offered here. Constructed using leftover factory parts and originally titled 'Road Scrambler', the reborn Velo was intended to tap into the burgeoning 'retro' boom that had emerged in the late 1990s and is still going strong today. However, the cost of the finished article was deemed excessive and the project was shelved.

In building this Street Scrambler, Simon Goodman used a frame that qualified for a 1968 registration number, together with a genuine Velocette Scrambler fuel tank and tool box, both of which are modified Valiant items. Thruxton references include the twin instruments and oil tank heat shield, while the fishtail silencer 's cut-away top edge identifies it as one modified by marque specialist Geoff Dodkin to accommodate rest-set foot controls. At some point a new down-tube was fitted (see picture on file).

Simon Goodman retained the Street Scrambler for many years before it ended up in the hands of Velocette enthusiast Dr Peter Connor. It was Dr Connor who got it roadworthy, in the course of which the engine was rebuilt to somewhere between stock Venom and high-performance Thruxton specification. Neil Redley purchased the machine from Dr Connor in 2007.

Neil's unique Street Scrambler was the subject of an article in The Classic MotorCycle (December 2013 edition, copy available). "So this Velocette's unique and it looks a million dollars – but what is it like to ride?" asked TCM's tester. "The short answer is that it's outstanding... It almost goes without saying that the Magura controls and everything else work exactly as they should – this is an almost new motorcycle, after all... The roadholding, steering and braking are as good as you'd expect from a late-model Velocette, and that's pretty damn good by classic standards.

"And the engine is superb... this is one of the very best (big singles), with flywheel effect, breathing and transmission all working in perfect harmony. It still seems extraordinary... that a comparatively simple mill like this can pull so strongly at low revs, yet deliver scintillating power at the top end."

Used within the collection since purchase, this unique piece of Velocette history will require recommissioning before returning to the road following a period of inactivity. Offered with a V5C and a history file.
Offered with key