Property of a deceased's estate 1928 Brough Superior '1,134cc' SS100 Alpine Grand Sport Registration no. YV 5550 Frame no. 969 Engine no. JTO/C 2945/T •The most desirable of Vintage-era motorcycles •Present ownership since 1982 •Matching numbers •Little used during the present ownership Legendary superbike of motorcycling's between-the-wars 'Golden Age', Brough Superior – 'The Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles' - was synonymous with high performance, engineering excellence and quality of finish. That such a formidable reputation was forged by a motorcycle constructed almost entirely from bought-in components says much for the publicity skills of George Brough. But if ever a machine was more than the sum of its parts, it was the Brough Superior. W E Brough's machines had been innovative and well engineered, and his son's continued the family tradition but with an added ingredient - style. The very first Brough Superior MkI of 1919 featured a saddle tank - an innovation not adopted by the rest of the British industry until 1928 - and the latter's broad-nosed, wedge-profiled outline would be a hallmark of the Nottingham-built machines from then on. Always the perfectionist, Brough bought only the best available components for his bikes, reasoning that if the product was right, a lofty price tag would be no handicap. And in the 'Roaring Twenties' there were sufficient wealthy connoisseurs around to prove him right. One such was T E Lawrence – 'Lawrence of Arabia' – who owned several Broughs and was critically injured whilst riding an SS100. Introduced in 1922, the JAP-powered SS80 achieved instant fame when a racing version ridden by George became the first sidevalve-engined machine to lap Brooklands at over 100mph. With the new SS80's performance threatening to put the overhead-valve MkI in the shade, it was decided to completely redesign the latter. The result was the legendary SS100. First shown to the public in 1924, the SS100 employed an entirely new overhead-valve 980cc JAP v-twin engine. A frame of duplex cradle type was devised for the newcomer, which soon after its launch became available with the distinctive, Harley-Davidson-influenced, Castle front fork patented by George Brough and Harold 'Oily' Karslake. And just in case prospective customers had any doubts about the SS100's performance, each machine came with a written guarantee that it had been timed at over 100mph for a quarter of a mile - a staggering achievement at a time when very few road vehicles of any sort were capable of reaching three-figure speeds. With this level of performance available in road trim, it was only to be expected that the SS100 would make an impact on the racetrack, particularly the ultra-fast Brooklands oval, and the exploits of Brough Superior riders - among them Le Vack, Temple, Baragwanath, Fernihough and Pope - did much to burnish the marque's image. When Brooklands closed forever at the outbreak of WW2, Noel Pope's Brough Superior held both the sidecar and solo lap records, the latter at an average speed of 124.51mph. Success in an altogether different branch of motorcycle sport resulted in one of Brough's most iconic models: the SS100 'Alpine Grand Sports' or 'AGS'. Introduced in September 1925 for the 1926 season, this new machine took its name from the Austrian Alpine Trial, the 1925 event having been contested by a number of SS100s, one ridden by George Brough himself, resulting in the award of six cups, including one for 'Best Performance'. The introduction of the Alpine Grand Sports coincided with that of a new frame for the SS100, and the AGS came as standard with a lower compression ratio (making it more suitable for touring), a small fly-screen and a pair of tool boxes. Brough entered the 1930s with an entirely JAP-powered range and then in 1936 the SS100 was redesigned with an engine built by Associated Motor Cycles, in which form it continued until production ceased in 1939. Lighter and faster than the subsequent Matchless-engined version, the JAP-powered SS100 has long been regarded as the ultimate incarnation of this famous model. Perhaps every enthusiast's and collector's dream is to find a hidden gem in a barn or garage, and what we have here is perhaps one of the most exciting of them all: a Brough Superior SS100. Hidden away by its secretive owner, this example had not seen the light of day for decades until it was recently disinterred from its resting place (the last tax disc expired in 1978). Once the tyres had been inflated, the Brough gracefully rolled out of the garage, ready for a new owner to enjoy. But what is also amazing about 'YV 5550' is that not only is it a matching-numbers example of one of the most desirable motorcycles ever, but it also has a full and fascinating history. The copy Works Record Card confirms that the SS100 retains its original frame, engine and fuel tank no. 1901 (nb the frame number was initially stamped with the first '9' upside down before being corrected at the factory). Its specification included a Binks twin-float carburettor, Lucas magdyno, Klaxon horn, Pilgrim oil pump, two prop-stands, Terry saddle, and plated mudguards with black centres. The first owner of this exceptional machine was Shell Mex Ltd, the registered keeper being one Malcolm Vincent Ambler, Chief Motor Engineer at Shell Marketing Ltd. Presumably, the machine was his 'company vehicle,' or perhaps it was used for marketing and promotional purposes. This remains unclear; however, in 1931 the Brough was resold to P Platts in Manchester, probably the motorcycle dealer Percy Platts of Oldham, Manchester. The Brough Superior Club also records the Oldham-based daredevil speedway rider, trade unionist and Communist Party member Clem Beckett (1906-1937) as another owner of 'YV 5550' (Platts garage was located on the same stretch of road as Beckett's garage). Beckett gained fame in speedway, winning the Golden Helmet at Owlerton Stadium, and founded the Dirt Track Riders' Association to help protect riders' rights. A committed communist and anti-fascist, Beckett volunteered for the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War, where he served as a machine gunner. He was killed in the Battle of Jarama in 1937 while covering his comrades' retreat. Another interesting former owner is one Harry Biggs, who is referenced in a 1955 article in The Motor Cycle about 'YV 5550' entitled 'A Brough Day in the Hills.' The then-owner was Harry Muckalt, while the author of the article, and Muckalt's sidecar passenger, was R D Humber (copy article on file). In the very first paragraph, it states 'YV 5550' had been the property of Harold 'Harry' Biggs – qualified engineer, tuner, and Brooklands competitor on various makes - who worked for Duzmo, Alfa Romeo British Sales, JAP, Frazer Nash, Automobile Supertuners, and Marshall Superchargers among others. While with Supertuners he worked on one of Sir Henry Segrave's 2-litre Sunbeams. Biggs had commenced his career in the tuning department of G H Tucker, the Bristol-based Norton specialist, and in a 1942 article in Motor Sport magazine, Biggs recalled that Tucker had received one of the first SS100 Brough Superiors. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
