Lot 70: Greeves Prototype Rolling Chassis
During 1951 the "Motor Cycle" reported on the existence of a prototype Greeves roadster, failing to make mention of a second machines existence which was built as a scrambler. The most notable feature of the prototype was the suspension medium employed. A pivoted fork system was fitted at the rear, complimented at the front by a set of leading link forks which both employed rubber bushes in torsion to provide the springing. The early frame design was of tubular steel construction, nickel bronze welded throughout. The scrambler was campaigned by Frank Byford in Eastern Centre competitions. His participation led indirectly to the most famous and enduring feature of the Greeves motorcycle when Bert Greeves witnessed a repair being carried out to a Francis Barnett frame at a meeting. The frame downtube had snapped and was replaced by a solid piece of bar. Bert Greeves reasoned that a light alloy casting could replace the downtube offering advantages in strength and ease of production leading to the introduction of the famous I beam.
The chassis offered is a prototype that presumably dates from the period between 1951 and 1953 and is offered complete with forks, wheels and mudguards. The engine plates are of steel construction instead of the alloy used on the production machines.
| Auction |
Motorcycles H&H Sales Limited, The Imperial War Museum, Duxford |
|---|---|
| Type | Motorcycle |
| Lot Number | 70 |
| Estimate | £1000-£1500 |
| Outcome | SOLD |
| Hammer Price | - |
| Hammer Price (inc premium) | £1120 |
| Year | 0 |
| Condition rating | 0 |
| Registration number | |
| Mileage | - |
| Chassis number | 419D |
| Engine number | |
| Engine capacity (cc) | |
| Engine - cylinders | |
| Number of doors |