1938/31 OEC 1,000CC “Flying Squad” to go under hammer at Bonhams
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1938/31 OEC 1,000CC “Flying Squad” will be featured at Bonhams’ upcoming sale, “The Spring Stafford Sale” that will take place on April 28, 2019, in Stafford. The pre-auction estimate of this motorcycle is £ 70,000 - 80,000 and it will be offered i
1938/31 OEC 1,000CC “Flying Squad” to go under hammer at Bonhams
1938/31 OEC 1,000CC “Flying Squad” will be featured at Bonhams’ upcoming sale, “The Spring Stafford Sale” that will take place on April 28, 2019, in Stafford. The pre-auction estimate of this motorcycle is £ 70,000 - 80,000 and it will be offered in lot 510 at the auction. “Best remembered for its curious ‘duplex’ form of steering gear and Claude Temple’s record-breaking exploits on the mighty OEC-Temple-Anzani, the Osborn Engineering Company commenced motorcycle manufacture in 1914. As well as the patented duplex steering, introduced in 1927, the firm offered rear springing from 1929. In 1930 OEC achieved the world record-breaking two-way average speed of 137.3mph with a 1,000cc supercharged JTOR engine OEC-JAP,” states the auction house. The auction house further says, “This machine, registration EUC 23, is known to have been used in 1938 by the Ministry of Transport for the purpose of testing and recording road surface friction. It was fitted at this time with a racing 1,000cc JTOR JAP OHV engine and a heavily modified sidecar with adjusting wheel and equipment. Many of its features, however, would indicate an earlier machine dating from circa 1931-33, used by a number of Police forces and known as the ‘Flying Squad’ model. These include the frame and fork design and the lugs used, which were obsolete on all OEC models by 1937. In addition, the unique design of rear suspension — a hybrid of swing arm and plunger — was superseded by a more conventional plunger design on all other OEC machines by this time. The duplex-type steering arrangement was similarly obsolete by the late ‘30s, replaced by standard girder forks.” Bonhams also says, “The OEC was bought by David Blanchard on April 1, 1966 minus engine from one J Connelly of Marine Parade, Brighton (purchase receipt on file) and is depicted in an accompanying photograph in rolling chassis form complete with gearbox, duplex front fork, disc rear wheel, and its original fuel tank. In 2011, it was acquired in heavily modified form by Brough Superior restorer Simon Miles and has been authentically returned to its early 1930s guise using original parts, many of which had been previously fitted to the bike. It now sports a fully rebuilt racing JAP JTO engine, a 3 speed Burman gearbox with special positive stop change mechanism, and a very rare matching BTH magdyno and lighting set.” https://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder: Louise Blouin Read more
