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• Auction House:
  Donington Auctions
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Motorcycles, Cars & Horse Drawn Carriages - Featuring the Private Museum of Racing Driver Bryan Thomson
• Sale Date:
  20 Jun 2021 ~ 2pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  5
• Lot Description:
  1956 VELOCETTE MAC 350
  One of only 129 swingarm MAC Velocettes exported to Australia in the 1950s
• Notes:
  Of all the now defunct British marques, Velocette was one of the more eccentric but represented much that was endearing about British motorcycles. During the 1950s and 1960s parallel twins gradually replaced singles and Velocette was left as the last quintessentially classic British single cylinder motorcycle. Although Velocettes reputation was built on the racing KTT it was the 350cc MAC that sustained the company for more than two decades. First introduced back in 1934, the MAC continued virtually unchanged until its demise in 1960. The high camshaft pushrod 349cc single cylinder engine was common to all Velocette MACs and was noted for its extremely narrow crankcase and well-supported crankshaft assembly. The bore and stroke were 68x96mm, and with a very mild compression ratio of 6.75:1 and a 24mm Amal carburettor the engine produced a modest 14 horsepower. As the MAC weighed 161kg dry and the gearbox was only four-speed its performance was leisurely, the MAC topping out around 113 km/h. Apart from the alloy head in 1951, the big development in the MACs life was the introduction of rear suspension in 1953. The wheelbase increased to 2116mm and the shape of the fuel and oil tanks were modernised. The frame was made of the best available material, Reynolds 531 tubing, with traditional pinned and brazed lugs, and the single front downtube butted. The swingarm was also a quality fabrication, consisting of tapered tubes pivoting on steel-backed lead-bronzed bushes. Rear suspension adjustment was by an arrangement co-patented with Phil Irving (of Vincent and Repco fame) with the tops moving in an arc that provided softer or firmer damping. Rolling on a pair of 19-inch wheels, the 350 sprung frame MAC was an instant success, and with good reason. The MAC provided race-bred handling, and as the all-alloy engine featured fully-enclosed valve gear it was remarkably oil tight. With tried and tested magneto ignition and the usual Miller lighting equipment the MAC was an easy motorcycle to live with. Although lacking the kudos of Velocettes sporting and racing models, the 350 MAC was a quality, sound touring single and remains a sought-after classic. Bryan had owned and raced a similar Velocette MAC 350 in the 1956 New Years Day event at Victory Park, Ballarat, on the edge of Lake Wendouree, run by the Hartwell Motorcycle Club. In 2001, nostalgia set in and Bryan purchased this bike on offer from lifelong motoring enthusiast John Lawton in Maldon. Bryan informs us he last ran the bike in 2018, but it is lacking spark and its likely the Magneto needs attention, possible points. This bike is sold with two original soft cover books The Book of the Velocette Ferrers Leigh Maintenance Manual and Instruction book for Motor cycle solo Velocette Models M.A.C and M.A.F 350cc O.H.V, together with a copy of a photo of Bryan on a similar motorcycle in 1956. It is also featured on page 67 of issue No. 15 Sep/Oct 2009 of Old Bike Australasia and was the featured "Collectable" by Ian Falloon in Australian Motorcycle Trader March 2011. This motorcycle is sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$11,000 - 15,000
• 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.