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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
• Sale Date:
  30 Apr 2017 ~ 2.30pm
• Lot #:
  23
• Lot Description:
  1932 VELOCETTE KTT 350 Mk IV
  One of a mere 148 examples builtFrame no: KTL 4282Engine no: KTT 444. This motorcycle will be sold unregistered
• Notes:
  Nothing seems to stir the Velocette enthusiast quite like a KTT. The abbreviation stands for the Kamshaft Tourist Trophy, and the KTT was a very successful production racer offered to the public in a road going version. The racing KTT 350 Mk I to Mk IV bikes were produced from 1928 until 1934. With the experience gained by the successful Velocette works team, the Mk I was effectively a replica of the works machines that had secured Velocette’s second TT win in the 1928 Junior race. The new model was powered by an overhead cam single cylinder 350cc engine with a bore and stroke of 74 x 81 mm that could be distinguished from the road going models by the impactful external stiffening webs employed on the crankcase. Lighter, steel flywheels and a hotter camshaft were also fitted. A definite improvement to the overall design was the additional pump to force oil in to the cambox- really an additional scavenge pump to take oil from the cambox and return it directly to the oil tank instead of the crankcases. This was an innovation developed on the works TT models. Although, according to Ivan Rhodes, “the term ‘exact replica’ was not quite correct...since lessons learned...were incorporated in the new model”. Throughout this exciting time in the KTT evolution, the Velocette factory engineers paid special attention to strengthening the valve train; revised cylinder head and a three-speed gearbox was fitted with a set of close ratio gears via a primary chain together with a well-balanced rigid frame equipped with Webb girder forks, particular to the KTT. The Mk II/III model ran in this form with only minor alterations until 1932 when the MK IV was introduced. As standard, the Mk IV was fitted with the new positive stop four-speed gearbox and a new cast iron cylinder head. On some bikes, the tank mountings changed to rubber buffers, or lowered tank rails; the tank was a deep four-gallon version and these models are identified with the prefix KTL. This fine example of the Velocette KTT Mk IV, the exact bike being listed on page 187 of Velocette ‘Technical Excellence Exemplified” by Ivan Rhodes, was built in December, 1932. It is fitted with a 21” front and a 19” rear wheel and fitted with a front race plate. The motorcycle displays the correct factory upgrades such as the hairpin springs around the valves, the additional sub frame at the rear and the typical strengthened Webb girder forks. This factory correct KTT is currently running a 674 gear-box. Interestingly, the Mk IV number sequence started at no.401 (which was invoiced to Billy Tiffen). The Velocette KTT Mk IV production ceased at no. 549 making this example one of a mere 148 built. According to the vendor, this desirable and rare machine was restored to racing configuration some 13 years ago and has been displayed indoors for some years. It bears all the period hallmarks of the original factory machines other than the seat being somewhat more padded from the factory style. This 1932 KTT Mk IV offers a superb opportunity for the exacting Velocette collector to acquire a numbers correct, fully restored example.
• Estimate:
  A$34,000 - 38,000
• 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.