Like so many manufacturers,
Velocette depended on sporting success.
They broke records at Brooklands and won
two TT races as well as developing features
like spring frames and foot changes. The
last racing motorcycles appeared in the
early 1950s when the most popular Velocettes
were small motorcycles with very quiet shaft
drives, popular with police forces.
The 1939 Velocette Works
Special 495cc overhead camshaft racing motorcycle
was one of a small number of experimental
motorcycle built to challenge Norton supremacy
in 500cc class international road racing.
The Goodman family, who built Velocettes
in Birmingham, had long been supreme in
the 350cc class, but when they began to
manufacture road machines of 500cc they
felt they should challenge Norton, their
local rivals. With basically their latest
Junior machine, its engine straetched to
495cc by increasing the bore to 81mm from
74mm and lengthening the stroke to 96mm
from 81mm, legendary rider Stanley Woods
came within 15 sedonds of the winning Norton
in the 1937 and 1938 Isle of Man ASenior
TT races. Velocette
motorcycle history | Velocette
History - Year by Year.
| Bike |
Image |
Description |
| 1922 Velocette S2/3 ts |
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|
| 1924 Velocette A ds |
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|
| 1924 Velocette TS |
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|
| 1924 Velocette DS |
 |
|
| 1925 Velocette Model K ds Prototype |
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|
| 1926 Velocette KSS ds |
 |
Prepared for racing by the works.
|
| 1927 Velocette KS ds |
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|
| 1928 Velocette U ts |
 |
|
| 1929 Velocette USS DS |
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|
| 1929 Velocette GTP ds |
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|
1930 Velocette 350cc Model KTT |
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|
| 1931 Velocette KTP |
 |
348cc. |
| 1932 Velocette KTT MkII ts |
 |
|
1932 Velocette KSS
|
 |
Velocette ended the 1920's with
a bewildering range of over head cam
models which was at odds with the
deteriorating market conditions prompting
a period of rationalisation at the
beginning of the thirties. For the
1932 model season Velocette offered
three overhead cam singles and the
two stroke GTP. The touring market
was catered for by the newly introduced
KTS, which was essentially a KSS with
touring mudguards and tyres, the KTT,
now in its Mk III form provided racers
with a competitive machine and the
KSS satisfied the needs of the sporting
road rider. Late 1932 witnessed the
introduction of a four speed, foot
operated gearbox, the positive stop
mechanism being mounted on the top
of the gearbox end cover.
Image provided by www.classic-auctions.com.
|
1933 Velocette KSS, 350cc |
 |
The model KSS ( K for overhead camshaft,
SS for super sports) first appeared in
1925. It had a power output of about 19
HP at 5,800 rpm. From the KSS the successful
KTT was developed, this was the first
over-the-counter production racer to become
available to the general public. In 1933
the KSS got a four speed gearbox and in
1935 the KSS was completely redesigned;
the production of this Mark II was continued
until 1948. The KSS remains one of the
most sought-after models by collectors
who appreciate a really good British motorcycle
with an impeccable pedigree. |
| 1934 Velocette MOV ds |
 |
|
| 1934 Velocette KTS MkI |
 |
Billy Tiffin from Carlisle on ISDT
machine |
1934 Velocette GTP, 249cc |
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|
| 1935 Velocette GTP |
 |
250cc. |
| 1935 Velocette MSS ts |
 |
More Velocette
MSS information.. |
| 1936 Velocette KSS MkII ts |
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|
| 1936 Velocette KTS MkII ts |
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|
| 1936 Velocette KTS MkII ds |
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|
| 1937 Velocette 350 KSS |
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|
| 1938 Velocette GTP |
 |
250cc |
| 1938 Velocette GTP |
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|
| 1939 Velocette KTT MkVIII ts |
 |
More Velocette
KTT information. |
1947 Velocette KSS, 350cc |
 |
|
| 1948 Velocette MAC |
 |
Special rigid.
Velocette
MAC Gallery |
| 1948 Velocette 250 MOV |
 |
|
Velocette LE |
 |
Production - 1948-1968
Engine - 192cc, horizontally-opposed
side-valve four-stroke twin
Top Speed - 52mph
Horsepower - 8bhp @ 5000rpm
Bore and Stroke - 50 x 49mm
Picture kindly provided by www.classicstyle.com.au
Velocette
LE Gallery |
| Works dohc 350 racer 1949-52 |
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|
| 1954 Velocette MSS Prototype |
 |
Note oil drain pipes from rocker box. |
1954 Velocette Mac 350cc |
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|
| 1954 Velocette MAC |
 |
MAC350 |
| 1955 Velocette MAC |
 |
non-standard. |
| 1955 Velocette MSS TS |
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|
| 1955 Velocette MSS DS |
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|
Velocette Venom Thruxton |
 |
Engine - 499cc, air-cooled, OHV
single
Top Speed - 120mph (in race trim)
Horsepower - 41bhp @ 6500rpm
Transmission - 4-speed
Frame - twin loop with single front
downtube
Brakes - 2LS drum/drum
Velocette
Venom gallery |
| 1957 Velocette Valiant ds |
 |
|
1957 Velocette MSS 500cc |
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|
1958 Velocette Venom Clubman
|
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|
| 1958 Velocette Valiant |
 |
200cc. |
1959 Velocette Valiant, 200cc |
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|
| 1959 Velocette Viper |
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|
| 1959 Velocette Viper |
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350cc. Always renowned for producing
well made mid capacity machines Velo's
Viper was no exception and was one of
the most popular 350 c.c. machines offered
in the 1960's. They offered a little
more quality than the competition and
were capable of speeds in excess of
80 mph. |
1959 Velocette 500 (Norvel) |
 |
|
| 1960 Velocette Valiant |
 |
192cc. |
| 1960 Velocette MSS ds |
 |
US spec, outside Lou Branch's shop
in LA |
| 1960 Velocette Viper |
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|
| 1960 Velocette Viper |
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|
1961 Velocette Voletta, 192cc |
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|
| 1962 Velocette Viper Clubman |
 |
350cc. |
1969 Velocette Viper
350cc Genuine Clubman |
 |
Manufactured November 1961, incl.
rev counter, rear sets, Clubman tank,
TLS, vent FB. |
| 1965 Velocette Thruxton 3qts |
 |
With Avon fairing.
Velocette
Thruxton gallery |
| 1965 Velocette MSS |
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|
1968 Velocette 500cc single |
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|
Velocette Endurance 500cc |
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|
