1914 Premier 499cc Special

The Coventry-based bicycle manufacturing firm founded by Messrs Hillman, Herbert and Cooper changed its name to Premier Cycle Co in 1891, but did not join the burgeoning ranks of nascent motorcycle makers until November 1908, when it announced a single-cylinder machine using a White & Poppe engine and Chater Lea sprung front fork. In Victorian times one of the firm's 'ordinary' (penny-farthing) cycles, which used a system of cranks and levers to drive the front wheel, had been known as the 'Kangaroo', and this Antipodean marsupial was chosen as the marque's emblem.

The Premier was soon making a name for itself in the reliability trials of the day, one ridden by G E Stanley coming out on top after the final ACU Quarterly Trial of 1909. In May that same year the firm had introduced its first model with an own-built engine: a 548cc 90-degree v-twin. This was joined by a second Premier-engined model - a 500cc sidevalve - in 1910, replacing the earlier White & Poppe type. In 1911 a 246cc lightweight was introduced, one of which, equipped with three-speed Armstrong hub gear and ridden by J H Crickmore, acquitted itself well in the ACU 1,000 Miles Trial that year. Despite this promising start, Coventry Premier, as it had become, decided to abandon motorcycle production after WWI in favour of a three-wheeled light car; a disastrous decision that bankrupted the company, leading to its acquisition by Singer in 1921.

This Premier was acquired by the private vendor's late father in 1997 and displays last tax disc until the end of February 2015. That same year the Premier was judged 'Best Motorcycle in Class' and 'Best Motorcycle in Show' at the Sleaford Historic Car & Motorcycle Show (see photographs on file). We are advised by the vendor the machine was in use possibly until 2019, participating in various VMCC events such as the Banbury Run. It has been kept garage stored since acquisition and is believed to have been restored by Robin James, as the plaque on the rear mudguard suggests. Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning to a greater or lesser extent and thus is sold strictly as viewed.

The accompanying registration documents record the date of first registration as 3rd August 1921, this being shortly after the introduction of the Roads Act of 1920, which required local councils to register all vehicles at the time of licensing and to allocate a separate number to each. (Many vehicles, although in existence for several years in some cases, were only registered for the first time after the Act's passing.)

According to the VMCC marque specialist, Mr Kingsley, the original engine failed and a two-stroke engine (number 'D1312', as quoted in the RF.60 logbook) was fitted as a replacement. In the 1980s, former owner Monty Mortimer acquired a substitute engine of the correct type, which is fitted to this Premier today. The 1990 Sunbeam MCC Pioneer certificate notes 'frame has been modified to accept 2 speed gearbox'. Despite the 1990 Pioneer Certificate and the V5/V5C documents quoting the engine number as '6940', the number physically stamped on the engine appears to read '40 694'. Furthermore, we have been unable to locate a frame number on the machine. While both the RF.60 and V5/V5C documents quote a frame number of '8718', the aforementioned Pioneer certificate does not record a frame number. Accordingly, although this motorcycle is offered with the aforementioned registration documents for the VRN 'AR 7057', and is recorded on the HPI/DVLA database, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to the validity and status of its registration, as well as its authenticity, originality, completeness and mechanical condition prior to bidding.

Additional documentation includes the following: photographs of the Premier in action, including one of Monty Mortimer on the 1984 London - Brighton Run and the late owner at Banbury in 2005; a substantial quantity of marque-related literature; a history written by Monty Mortimer listing specialists involved in the Premier's four-year restoration; expired MoTs and tax discs; and various invoices including ones for fork springs (1999), seat re-covering (2002) and works to the fuel tank (2005).
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