A 1937 VELOCETTE Works 500, which was in a garage fire when in Australia 80 years ago, has been totally rebuilt and is now entered in to the Charterhouse auction of classic and vintage motorcycles on Wednesday, May 10 where it is expected to sell for tens of thousands of pounds.

“As an ex-Velocette Works motorcycle it was tragically destroyed by a garage fire beyond recognition when in Australia.” Commented Matthew Whitney. “Thankfully it was more recently rebuilt by Bob Jolly from Australia along with Rod Coleman from New Zealand, both well-known and respected Velocette racers and restorers, using a few rescued parts with the rest of the bike being completed with new machined parts.”

The West Country owner of this special Velocette flew out to Australia to look at the Velocette with a view to buying the bike, which he did. A retired Rolls Royce engineer himself, he owns other Velocettes but cannot find enough hours in the day to use this Works tool room copy.

Road registered with its V5C document, this racer makes quite a noise when started. With the original racing sister Velocette Works 500 in The National Motor Museum at Solihull probably worth a six figure sum, this Velocette tool room copy is estimated to sell for £38,000-42,000.

Charterhouse is now accepting entries for their spring programme of auctions including classic cars on Wednesday, April 12, and classic motorcycles on Wednesday, May 10. They are also accepting entries of pictures, prints and books with a selection of hunting, shooting, fishing and other sporting items in their two day April 19 and 20 auction and their two day May, 18 and 19 auction featuring silver, watches, jewellery with specialist sections of wine, port and whisky and Royal Doulton and Beswick.

For further information regarding these auctions, or to arrange a home visit, contact Matthew Whitney or Richard Bromell at Charterhouse on 01935-812277 or email items for valuation at info@charterhouse-auction.com