http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3129593/Vintage-World-War-One-motorbike-complete-machine-gun-sale.html

I would have though that is quite a good price for it (cheap)

email (option): roger.beck@node6.com

I saw this one at a show a few years back and it is perfect, very nice indeed. Apparently only one of three left and the only one that's likely to come up for sale, so if you've got it, £30,000 probably isn't bad? Just the Vickers Gun on it's own would cost you getting on for £5000 nowadays. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bovington Tank Museum or some other big museum fancied it and it went for even more.

email (option): rickandjo@pullen14.freeserve.co.uk

I'm quite sure the 'Tank' Museum wouldn't be interested Bill....The name is in the title. Haven't they got something similar in the foyer of the National Motorcycle Museum? I've never been there yet, but seem to remember pictures of one?

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

If I remember correctly the NMM have a Clyno outfit...

This one was bought by the present owner as a solo and he then added the sidecar and sourced/replicated many of the 'WD' components...So a fair bit of it will be replica....

A bit like the supercharged Bentleys where they start off with a chassis, engine and wheels and end up with a complete car (I know a chap who makes the completely new radiators for Bentleys)...

It's a funny thing about the old vehicle movement, everyone conveniently forgets that a large part of many vehicles isn't actually original...

Of course it has to be that way if they are ever to get on the road or even be complete...

The Matchless outfit was at Stafford Classic Bike Show this year and I had a good look over it...It is a nice restoration and has been done with an appearance of 'patina' so it looks quite original....Ian

Did anyone take a picture of the Matchless? I'd be interested to see it. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

It would be of huge interest to the Tank Museum Ron. This Matchless is typical of the bikes used by the Motor Machine Gun Corps, which was the semi-official forerunner of the Heavy Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps which became the Tank Corps in 1917. Many of the lads who fought in the tanks first battle on 15th September 1916 came from the MMGC and would have started out on bikes just like this. The first tanks were crewed with 'technical types' and 'men who were knowing with engines' so army motorcyclists and particularly the Motor Machine Gun Corps were soon encouraged to join. The Tank Museum tells the story of the tank from the very early days and I'm sure they would appreciate the link and would love to find room for this Matchless. They aren't short of a few quid, £30,000 wouldn't be a problem to them.

email (option): rickandjo@pullen14.freeserve.co.uk

OK Bill, I'm quite close to, and familiar with the Tank Museum and some of their policies. Reasoning and historical facts don't always enter into it. Money does though! There are all sorts of soft skin vehicles allied to Tank regiments, that must be dismissed on the grounds of finance and available room. If they were to show any interest in such an exhibit, I'll buy you a steak dinner and large brandy. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Bill, I don't think that 'typical' is good enough for a museum (it shouldn't be). This is an Imperial Russian contract machine and has no more place pretending to be in Commonwealth service than a Norton would.

MMG outfits should either be common-as-muck Clynos or the rather lovely and extremely scarce Royal Enfields.

'Fantasy Magazine' (to which I am a subscriber ) could well feature it in a centre-page spread.

It's a nice bike though, I'd like a go on it - but it has little historical value in its current trim.

email (option): 79x100(at)gmail.com

I know David Fletcher down at the Tank Museum very well, I'll see if I can get him to convince them to buy it and then I'll hold you to your offer Ron!

email (option): rickandjo@pullen14.freeserve.co.uk

Knowing the Daily Wail usual attitude to motor bikes, its a wonder the headline didnt say " leather jacket motor cycle gangs equiped with deadly machine gun death gangs in your town. Police unable to control to control them."

Ron, looks like you owe me half a steak dinner?

The British Motorcycle Charitable Trust were successful at Auction on Saturday 20th June in saving a rare WW1 Matchless Vickers 8B2/M motorcycle combination for the nation. The bike has been placed on loan to The Tank Museum, where it is now on display in the entrance hall.

email (option): rickandjo@pullen14.freeserve.co.uk

OK Bill. I'm only about 15 miles away. I'll look forward to seeing it. I'm quite sure they certainly won't spend any money on such exhibits. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I wish I was only 15 miles away from the Tank Museum Ron! I suggested that they should open a 'Tank Museum North' a few years back, but they didn't go for it.

I can't find any mention anywhere of what the hammer price was for the Matchless? It would be interesting to see if it was anywhere near to the estimate.

email (option): rickandjo@pullen14.freeserve.co.uk

£46,000 including premium....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Gulp! That's a fair old whack.

email (option): rickandjo@pullen14.freeserve.co.uk

This must be it then.

I was fortunate enough to experience a ride in the side-car of this particular machine and with Chris Orchard on the pillion back in 2012.................

This was at the Armed Forces day in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, where the owner had this fine bike as part of the Great War societies display..............

An awesome bike, very well restored, and not far removed from our bikes of a couple of decades further on..............

Seems an odd location for their publicity photo? Why not push it through into the WW1 hall and photograph it next to their Mk IV?

email (option): rickandjo@pullen14.freeserve.co.uk