1959 Velocette Venom 499cc. Registration number 899 LTC (non...

Estimate

£6,000 - £7,000

1959 Velocette Venom 499cc. Registration number 899 LTC (non transferrable). Frame number RS6549. Engine number VM 3496.

The Venom was Velocette’s hottest bike from its inception in 1955. In 1961 a factory-prepared Venom with a small fairing set the world’s 24-hour endurance speed record of 100.05 MPH at the Montlhery race track in France. The record stood until 2008 for 500cc motorcycles. The 499cc Venom was derived from the Velocette MSS. In a field crowded with a new crop of vertical twins from nearly every maker, Velocette simply didn’t have the means to join the vertical twin race. They had to make do with what they had, that being a line of very advance singles. Designed by Eurgene Goodman (son of the owner) and Charles Udall, the Venom had an alloy cylinder with cast iron liner, an alloy cylinder head and a high compression piston. The cam was set high in the crankcase to allow for very short pushrods. This offered some of the benefits of an overhead cam setup, but was much simpler and cheaper to produce. The Venom was produced until 1970.

899 LTC started life with a different frame, 13275, which has been replaced by a period correct one. It was sold by Kings Motors of the Wirral to Peter Hand of Chester on the 1st January 1960 and again by them to Hugh Hughes of Ruthin in 1962. By 1991 it was with Richard Evans of Ruthin who had it re-registered with DVLA and successfully kept the original registration number relating to the engine. He had the magneto rebuilt and had many parts replaced/rebuilt.

It then goes quiet until Stephen Parry of Abergele buys it as a project (photos on file) and sets about a full restoration to the condition you see today.

Our vendor bought it at auction in 2021 needing a bit of fettling, which has now been completed and being a serial restorer he is on with another project.

Sold with the V5C, R.F.60, various receipts for parts noted above and pre restoration photographs.