Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: 25th March 2025 from 1pm
Auction: 26th March 2025 - 9:00am
c. 1940 Velocette KSS
No Reserve
Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: 9227
MOT: Exempt
Authentically presented Velo KSS 350
Re-patriated from California in late 2010
Supplied with various manuals and the US Title
Velocettes were produced by Veloce Ltd in Hall Green, Birmingham between 1905 and 1971. Velocette was a family-owned firm selling almost as many hand-built motorcycles during its lifetime as the mass-produced machines from the likes of Triumph and Norton. Veloce, while small, was a great technical innovator and many of its patented designs are commonplace on motorcycles today, including the positive-stop foot shift and swinging arm rear suspension with hydraulic dampers. Renowned for the quality of its products, the company was involved in international motorcycle racing from the mid-1920s through to the 1950s, culminating in two 350cc World Championship titles and its still unbeaten record of averaging over 100mph for 24 hours on a 500cc single-cylinder machine. The legendary 350cc KSS featured an overhead camshaft engine that was quite rare in a road bike at the time and formed the basis of the championship-winning KTTs.
This Velocette KSS, being offered at 'no reserve', is part of a deceased estate, so unfortunately not much is known of its history. It was re-patriated from California in 2010, having spent most of its life overseas before being owned by a Velo enthusiast for the last 15 years. Presented in an authentic condition it has not been run for a number of years, so it will need a good recommissioning, however, the engine turns over on the kickstarter. The mag and timing cover were loose when being photographed, so they must have been worked on by the vendor before ill health took over. It is offered supplied with various manuals and owner's books together with its California title and 2010 import paperwork to aid registration in the UK. A rare opportunity to acquire a pre-war KSS at 'no reserve'.
