15th Nov, 2023 13:00

National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands

 
Lot 306
 

1930 Montgomery Fast Tourer
A rare & handsome machine

Estimated at £58,000 - £62,000

Lot details

Registration No: JT 9666
Frame No: 2907
Engine No: KT/W98146/5
CC: 980
MOT: Exempt

  • Restored by Geoff Keeling
  • A rare Fast Road Tourer
  • Beautifully restored to a high standard
  • Used on this year's Banbury Run
  • Current V5C on file

In the early years of the 20th century, Montgomery Motorcycles was a pioneering British motorcycle manufacturer. William J. Montgomery establishing his manufacturing business in the Suffolk town of Bury St Edmunds a considerable distance from the heart of Britain’s motorcycle industry in the West Midlands. It was only post WWI that manufacturing was moved to Coventry.

Very much an innovator, its founder William Montgomery had been credited with the invention of the sidecar, indeed, for many years, motorcycle combinations remained a primary focus of his business. Like Brough, Montgomery made use of the best components from other specialist companies and concentrated on the production of frames and forks in-house - and Montgomery supplied a number of frames and its own sprung fork to George Brough.

"These Montgomery machines are for the men who prefer a distinctive mount in appearance and performance. That extra degree of soundness – those little touches which distinguish the 'super' machine from the mere motorcycle, come naturally to the Montgomery and at a price that is amazingly low." Montgomery advertisement in the era.

The first bike from Montgomery Motorcycles was a flat twin produced in 1913 with a Morton and Weaver engine. The Great War halted production, which did not resume until 1922 in Coventry. William Montgomery continued to experiment with sidecar designs and even personally competed in the 1923 Isle of Man TT sidecar race. Alas, the entire Montgomery works was destroyed by fire in 1925 but were able to eventually recover and by 1930 were a leading producer of quality two-stroke and four-stroke motorcycles. The top of the range was the Greyhound, finished in a special grey enamel paint. WWII brought an end to all production and Montgomery ceased trading not long after the outbreak of hostilities in Europe, in late 1939. The Montgomery name did not re-emerge after World War II, however, it is perhaps most associated today with its Anzani 8-valve vee-twin, which stood as one of the "superbikes" of the Vintage era and market challenger to the Brough Superior SS100.

This very handsome 1930 Montgomery Fast Tourer has been restored by Geoff Keeling to a very high standard, Geoff Keeling has restored several Montgomery motorcycles over the last 20 years and is very knowledgeable on the mark, including another Fast Tourer that sold earlier this year, and was of the same quality. This particular machine was restored during the lockdown pandemic and kept Geoff busy in the garage. Once completed it has seen action on the road and recently completed the 2023 Banbury Run with no faults and ran very well. First registered in the county of Dorset in 1930, the Fast Tourer was purchased by the current vendor around 2002 as a restoration project, although it was mainly complete. There is very little history about this Montgomery, even looking back through the years, back as far as when it was first registered. The Montgomery is running as it should, and whilst on my visit Mr Keeeling started the machine with ease and ran it around the garden, and with its very crisp exhaust note, it ran well.

For more information, please contact:
Mike Davis
mike.davis@handh.co.uk
07718 584217

 

Auction: National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands, 15th Nov, 2023

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An auction of classic motorcycles & vintage scooters taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, West Midlands.

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