1938 Velocette MSS, 498 cc. Registration number BV 8633. Fra...

Hammer

£7,100

1938 Velocette MSS, 498 cc. Registration number BV 8633. Frame number 5254. Engine number MSS 3515.
The company was founded in 1905 as Veloce Limited, and initially produced four-stroke motorcycles, first with Belgian 'Kelecom' engines, then an F-head design of their own, with an integral two-speed gearbox.
In the early 1920s, Veloce realized that in order to grow as a company, it needed a new machine of advanced specification and developed an overhead camshaft 350 cc engine, which became known as the 'K' series, introduced in 1925. They were entered into racing events such as the Isle of Man TT and Brooklands races, and the reliability and sweet running qualities of their new engine led to a long string of racing successes. The 1929 KTT was the first production motorcycle to feature positive-stop, foot-actuated gear change.
The MSS initially arrived in 1935 as the third in Veloce's range of OHV high-cam, short pushrod singles. They started with the 250cc MOV which was followed by the 350 MAC. The MSS was a natural progression, using the 96mm stroke from the 350 engine with an 81mm bigger bore to give a 495cc long-stroke motor. This engine was slotted into a heavyweight frame developed from the racing KTT, with a rigid rear end and Webb-type girder forks. The model disappeared from the Veloce range in 1948 while the company concentrated on the LE, reappearing in 1954 with a new swinging-arm frame and Hall Green's own telescopic front fork.
BV 8633 was first sold on the 12th July 1938 and by 1949 was in the hands of James Dixon of Preston, Lancashire, rapidly changing hands until the mid 1950's when it was owned by Joseph Cunningham of Blackburn, the trail then goes quiet until William Wood of Accrington owned it it 1977 before selling it to our vendor in September 1983.
He has ridden over 20,000 miles on her over the years but is now reducing his collection.
Sold with the R.F. 60A, V.E. 60, V5, V5C, three old MOT's and two tax disc's this MSS is an older restoration that is a good runner.