Lot 433: 1948 Francis-Barnett 122cc Model 51 Merlin

One of Francis-Barnett�s first post-war offerings was the Model 51 Merlin. Introduced in 1946, the latter was powered by the 122cc Villiers 9D twin-port engine, which went into a rigid frame equipped with girder front fork. A handsome and well-equipped lightweight, the Merlin came with a speedometer and direct lighting as standard, while a particularly neat touch was the oil tank � complete with petroil mix measure � attached to the rear chain stays. Last taxed to July 1969, this Merlin has been on display within a private collection for the past 31 years and thus will require careful re-commissioning and the customary safety checks before returning to the road. The machine comes with old-style logbook and Swansea V5.