Description
Superbly restored late model Velocette LE Mk III 192cc
I bought this bike in October 2018 from a true perfectionist restorer, as late 73rd birthday present to myself.
He chose it to restore because it is a very low mileage example and one of the last made (with Frame number 8035/ 34 and matching engine number 8035/ 3). It is therefore a Mark III model with four gears (not three), 18-inch wheels and the larger fuel tank. It was originally a Police Bike when new with the registration WGK 161G which means that it was first registered between August 1968 to July 1969 not long before Velocette ran into financial problems (because the Police who bought more than half of the company’s production, switched to Panda cars) and went into voluntary liquidation in early 1971.
However, when the Police stopped using them, they cancelled every registration of the machines they still owned and hence this one (which was unused and in storage for decades) was re-registered, and it was given the number SVN 552D (which is a 1966 number). I do still have the original number plates (front and back – see picture) if the new owner wants to try to get its first number reinstated.
Soon after I bought it I was lucky enough to locate a new ‘civilian’ shaped windscreen (unused but obviously old and dusty) for exactly this model which of course I bought (they are very rare now) and it comes with that as well as with its original ‘Police issue’ shaped windscreen with which most of us are familiar. Neither windscreen has been fitted since the restoration. None of the privately owned Velocette LE’s ever had the ‘Police issue’ type windscreen, perhaps to ensure that official Police machines were always clearly distinguishable.
Rather than replacing the Police style saddle the restorer obtained one of the civilian style two-person pillion seats, never used, and it is upholstered in a colour to match the rather charming and discreet green and grey for the whole machine. It also has a luggage carrying rack which looks absolutely new – but that came to me with the restoration.
It was already approaching winter by the time I got the machine back to my own storage and so I did not attempt to start it or use it until the weather would have improved. But summer and autumn 2019 was incredibly busy for me personally and I left commissioning it until the following year, obviously completely unaware that Covid would then close everything down! To cut the story short, since then I have continued to leave it in our store and have never even tried to get it started, but as I shall be 80 next year have now decided to sell it! I put in a new battery and took it to my usual scooter and motorcycle shop for a MOT (not needed of course as it is exempt, being registered as a historic vehicle, but thinking this might be a source of additional comfort for a new owner). However, they told me that it had a petrol leak from the carburettor and that it was much too old for them to even think of fixing that! So, it has that nice new battery and awaits the fingers and skills of someone who is not frightened by the challenge of maintaining older machinery and wants to enjoy a truly beautifully restored machine !
The handbook covering all aspects of maintenance of the model shown in the pictures comes with it, and if I can find the other books I bought on the Velocette LE, they will come with it too!
The machine is in a dry store near our home in Epsom. Please come and see it – you will not be disappointed!
