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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen-Webb's
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Cars & Motorcycles
• Sale Date:
  18 Jun 2017 ~ 3pm (New Zealand Standard Time)
• Lot #:
  4
• Lot Description:
  1950 SCOTT FLYING SQUIRREL 596CC
  Frame No: 5171. Engine No: MDH 1054
• Notes:
  The Scott Motorcycle Company was a well-known producer of motorcycles and industrial light engines. It was founded by Alfred Angus Scott in 1908 as the Scott Engineering Company in Yorkshire and, in various incorporations, produced motorcycles until 1978. The Squirrel was introduced in 1921 with an unorthodox two-stroke engine. Alfred Angus Scott died in 1923 and the development machines became more conventional. Launched at the 1926 Earls Court motorcycle show, the Flying Squirrel was expensive at twice the cost of its contemporary sporting four-stroke motorcycles. The unique water-cooled circulation used a convection method known as the thermosyphon system. The bottom end blocks were identified either green for racing and red for road use and featured a centrally positioned flywheel, twin inboard main bearings, overhung crankpins and doors for easy access to the engine. The updated three-speed gearbox, multi-plate clutch and repositioned magneto were important improvements at this time. In 1929, Scott achieved third place in the Isle of Man TT and launched a road going TT Replica Flying Squirrel. Financial problems curtailed development and so Scott were unable to enter the TT or the Earls Court show in 1931. A three-cylinder prototype was developed but the outbreak of World War II saw the end of production at that time. In 1946/7, 500 or 600 cc engines were available to the market. In 1950, the company was acquired by Scott enthusiast Matt Holder's Aerco Jig and Tool Company in Birmingham which brought about some long-awaited improvements including a duplex frame and better brakes. Holder initially continued to build the same model from his premises in St Mary’s Row and these became known as the "Birmingham Scotts". In 1956, Holder began development of a 596cc model utilising the duplex frame and telescopic forks. Matt Holder’s son David moved the remaining stock to the former 'Number 2' Triumph factory at Meriden and found that his father had accumulated a cache of original Scott parts including Burgess silencers and Miller headlights. In 1958, the Birmingham Scott was updated with a swing arm frame and alternator. Despite the 493 cc Scott Swift being announced, it never went into production, although Holder continued to produce one-off Scott motorcycles until 1978. In the late 1970s, Silk Engineering produced the Silk 700S. which comprised an uprated Scott engine fitted into a modern type frame made by Spondon Engineering. This highly modified and documented 1950 Flying Squirrel was first registered in New Zealand in 2000 as 86UCW and has a current odometer reading of 58,884 miles approx. Thorough research by the vendor has shown that this motorcycle belonged to Mr Graham Howells of Cleobury Mortimer, a recognised attendee on Scott rallies in 1968/69and 71 in the UK. A letter from the Scott Owners Club Leicester and an article written by Mr Howells for Yowl Magazine, an endearing colloquialism for the distinctive yowl Scotts makes from the exhaust, astablishes that he was instrumental in the development of the machine in total during the period 1960 to the mid-1970s. It appears that the motorcycle was then sold by the mid-1970s and subsequently brought to NZ. It was owned by Mr. Ted Jarvis of Levin, a hot spot for Scott enthusiasts in NZ, until purchased by the current owner. According to the letter from the Scott Owners Club, this bike started its interesting life as a 1949/50 Flying Squirrel with frame number 5161 and engine DPY5268, the original pairing with English registration BJV694, then owned by Mr. G Wright of Nottingham. It was subsequently owned by Mr W Howells of Kidderminster. It is believed from the Club letter and accompanying Yowl article that it was Mr. Howells who fitted the Norton Roadholder front forks and brake from a Norton Commando to the Scott and he who made the final form of swinging arm rear suspension frame and the 5-gallon tank with 4 rubber mountings. He also converted the electrical system to 12 Volt and fitted the twin coils and twin contact breaker spark system. The development to the Pilgrim pump drive is covered in the Yowl article available on request. The vendor believes it correct to assume that it was during Howell’s ownership that the engine change took place for the present engine is clearly not the original; the number indicating it to be one of a batch known as the Matt Holder Development Engines. Subsequent owners were either not in the Scott Club or simply neglected to change the name(of ownership and Howell’s last record of ownership is May 1974). This motorcycle has been held in the same loving ownership since 2000 as part of an interesting collection of vehicles and holds a special pride of place to its discerning vendor. The Scott Squirrel is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a rare and unusual Scott that has been admired and documented by the Scott Owners Club in the UK over time.
• Estimate:
  NZ$8,000 - 9,500
• 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.