There’s some interesting machinery already confirmed for Bonhams’ April Stafford sale, in particular, a couple of rare vintage V-twins.
One, a 1927 Matchless M3/S, of 990cc, right; the other a 1928 Montgomery, powered by a 680cc V-twin JAP engine, above.
Vintage Matchless machines seem to have only survived in penny numbers, with this type of V-twin especially unusual; the usual khaki-coloured machines are relatively often seen at appropriate events (though again not in numbers) but this type, featuring a Brough Superior-esq saddle tank, is hardly ever in evidence. Estimate is £28,000-35,000.
Montgomeries are hardly thick on the ground either, V-twins especially so, making this middleweight an attractive proposition.
Founded in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, Montgomery – as a concern – moved to Coventry before the First World War and continued to build a variety of proprietary engined machines through the vintage period and into the 1930s. Estimate is £25,000-35,000.
Elswehere in the sale, there’s a pair of overhead camshaft 350cc AJS models – one 1929, one 1930 – as well as a raft of café racers, including a Neville Evans Manxman, the 1980s built single which was based heavily on the single overhead camshaft Norton.
More details from bonhams.com
Read more News and Features in the March 2020 issue of The Classic Motorcycle – on sale now!