Time-warp Racers: 1920’s Isle of Man TT factory race bikes on the grid for H&H Classics auction

Jimmy Shaw astride the Norton 16H TT

Two unique 1920’s TT race bikes are going to auction at the National Motorcycle Museum with H&H Classics on Saturday December 19^th.

A 1921 Norton Model 16H Works Race bike ridden by Jimmy Shaw in the 1921 TT is estimated to sell for £30,000 to £40,000 and a 1929 Scott Works TT Race bike ridden by Phil Vare, estimated to sell for £30,000 to £35,000, will take pride of place in this £2m auction line-up.

Both bikes failed to complete their TT events due to mechanical issues in their respective races but amazingly survive today.

Mark Bryan – Head of Bikes at H&H Classics, says: “It’s a real privilege to be dealing with these two survivors from the bygone days of the TT, both so different and both nearly 100 years old, one being mostly original and the other being restored. Both are road legal and would be great fun on events like the Banbury Run or just racing to the pub on a sunny Sunday!”

1921 Norton 16H TT estimate £30,000- £40,000

The 1921 Norton 16H was completely restored in 2012/2013 and was last seen out and about on the 2014 and 2015 Banbury Run.

This bike is one of the last Norton factory works sidevalve racers, ridden by Jimmy Shaw at the 1921 TT. It was sold after the TT by fellow works racer Vic Horsmann from his Liverpool shop.

It was purchased by a Mr Briggs, who kept the bike until 1982. Resold in 1999 by Brooks at RAF Hendon to an owner who carried out the restoration.

It is in very good overall condition and comes complete with history file with letter from Mr Briggs, copies of old photographs, current V5C and other associated paperwork.

1929 Scott TT Race Bike: 

The 1929 Scott TT Race bike is mostly original and was refurbished at the Scott factory after the race in 1929.

1929 Scott TT – estimate £30,000 -£35,000

This extremely rare Scott is the only surviving original Scott from the 1929 Senior TT. All the other 1929 works bikes were dismantled after the race by the works and the parts recycled, eventually ending up in a variety of later Scotts. Vare had used his TT Rep in practice for the TT but his lap times so impressed that he was given a "real" works bike, 7M, for the remainder of practice and the race itself. Following one spill, from which he recovered, Vare was unlucky to have to retire from the race due to a holed piston when on the last lap.

Paul Vare on the Scott

With the bike comes an extensive file of correspondence, including many letters from Phil Vare and Geoff Lee, documenting its history

This is a remarkable opportunity to own a "time warp" survivor and unique piece of Scott racing TT history, which is now ready for road or track use.