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• Auction House:
  Webb's
• Sale Name:
  Classic Motorbikes
• Sale Date:
  27 Sep 2015 ~ 11am (NZ time)
• Lot #:
  5
• Lot Description:
  1967 BSA B44 Victor GP Moto-Crosser
  Engine No: B44R 2407, Frame No: B44 1830, Odometer: n/a. Condition: Very Good. Documents: California Certificate of Title
• Notes:
  This is one of three bikes that started as a batch of parts from what remained when the BSA factory competition shop shut down. Two of the most important people involved in their original builds were BSA’s competition manager, Brian Martin and frame builder, Eric Cheney. Both were involved with the rebuilding but sadly, both died before the project finished. To replace the heavyweight Gold Star scrambler, BSA switched to the lightweight B40 street model in late 1961. Having been modified for competition use, the B40 and its successors were developed so well that Jeff Smith was able to win the 500cc World Moto-Cross Championship for BSA in 1964 and 1965. The B40 started as a 350cc iron-barrel street bike and ended up as a full 500cc with liner-less alloy cylinder barrel and chromed bore. Works bikes were in a constant process of changing specifications searching for reduced weight, increased power, and improved rider preferences. The factory riders during this time included Jeff Smith, Vic Eastwood, John Banks, Dave Nicoll, Keith Hickman, Jerry Scott, Arthur Lampkin, John Burton and others. It is not possible to determine which rider rode which bike on which occasion, records being scant. Bob Achterberg spent more than three years patiently engineering and building the bikes from the stock of ex-BSA factory parts. Many parts have little or no resemblance to production B44 Victor items, and Bill Hauff built the parts that did not exist. For example, compare the sand-cast, ‘pear-shaped’ ’heads and cylinders on this bike with the standard ‘square-finned’, die-cast versions. Please note that this bike example has the production type Victor GP moto-cross frame (not titanium frame). There are many titanium and magnesium parts as evidence of the factory’s weight saving. The front brake backing plate has an adjustable pivot point, and the top fork triple clamp is cast in aluminium and the bottom one has been lightened. The brake drums, backing plates, and the rear sprocket are also lightened. The fork sliders are made of magnesium, the clutch, brake levers, and throttle are lightweight. Note also there is no kickstart lever. If you stalled, then you lost the race. This example has not been started since purchased.
• Estimate:
  NZ$16,000 - 25,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.