Grab your hat, we’re off to the (Bicycle and) Motorcycle Show!
George Brough stole the Earl’s Court spotlight in 1938 with his flat-four Golden Dream. World War II stopped production so few were made and they’re extremely rare today. One was lost in the National Motorcycle Museum fire. Though later restored, it doesn’t have any engine internals.
The 996cc engine was a flat four.
AJS showed off their Silver Streak, a 500cc four-stroke single with an entire 5bhp on tap.
Pop over to stand 28 and you’d find Ariel with their latest 995cc Square Four, although you’d have to wait another year for the optional Anstey-link plunger rear suspension.
Popular at the time but another manufacturer that stopped production at the start of World War II, and never resumed, was the Excelsior. The Manxman was on show with new engine.
Another lost manufacturer, Levis presented the 496cc OHV Model ‘D-Special’. (This marque is supposed to reappear as a prestige manufacturer. (Machines are reputedly in development but nothing has been seen yet.)
Other innovations on show included:
- Widespread adoption of rear-wheel springing.
- A dozen or more new engines. Increased use of aluminium for cylinders and cylinder heads.
- Complete new range of overhead-valve engines with chain-driven timing gears.
- Total enclosure of valve gear across the board
- Several new side-valve designs.
And of course, don’t forget to pick up this week’s Blue 'Un!
