RUMCars Forum

General Category => Off Topic Lounge => Topic started by: Barry on March 28, 2014, 09:50:01 AM

Title: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 28, 2014, 09:50:01 AM
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131150256923?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649

Don't see many of these for sale - looks like a bargain............................ ;D
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Garybond on March 28, 2014, 10:17:38 AM
Another with a pinched number plate sad!!
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 28, 2014, 10:44:06 AM
I think the numberplate 'SLK 479' is available separately and could be reunited with the bike for about £2000+   :-\
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: richard on March 28, 2014, 01:32:13 PM
Not rare by any standards barry - at least 8 on ebay alone right now and with over 9 days left it won't sell for that price . Known as noddy bikes and used by the police - but not as a pursuit vehicle! Being sold by invacar70 , is he one of us - or indeed one of them ?  ;)
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 28, 2014, 01:46:22 PM
I must come clean rather than dig a hole.  Invacar70 is in fact me......... ;D
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Grommet on March 28, 2014, 11:36:07 PM
LE Velos are not rare.. they are excellent though hence I have 15 of them!!!

All currently retaining their original registrations.......   ;)

Grommit
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Big Al on March 29, 2014, 06:43:14 AM
We had a few. Odd machine in ways but well made engine. They used to be cheaper than Bantams. Had an ex Police one with plate J*K 999, or the other way round. Was it a Scooter or a Motorcycle?
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 29, 2014, 08:11:52 AM
LE Velos are not rare.. they are excellent though hence I have 15 of them!!!

All currently retaining their original registrations.......   ;)

Grommit

In some parts 15 is a very unlucky number whereas 16 brings good fortune.  Perhaps you need another one?
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Grommet on March 29, 2014, 10:31:46 AM
Yours is already twice as much as I paid for my last one and unfortunately yours has lost its original reg… ;)

Grommet
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: richard on March 29, 2014, 11:02:35 AM
ah ! the pros and cons of raising ones own sales on the forum  ;D
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 29, 2014, 11:33:12 AM
Yours is already twice as much as I paid for my last one and unfortunately yours has lost its original reg… ;)

Grommet
But you bought your last one in 1976 :)

I know the old LE Velocette does not make a lot of money.  But, like the Peel Trident, they are probably just about to take-off   ;D

I took the number off because I thought I would lose it anyway when they changed to the no pre 1960 MOT rules - no MOT = No transfer. The bike was beyond economical restoration but could easily be put back on the road.

It was very difficult to find out what would happen so I didn't take any chances.  The reg number is on a retention certificate and could be reunited.  My conscience is almost clear..... ??? 
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Bob Purton on March 29, 2014, 11:52:55 AM
We must be the only country in the world that worries about registration numbers. I have not removed and sold them from my vehicles but I have to say they mean nothing to me. I bought and restored them because I liked the vehicles, not something issued by the government. I know the numbers are part of the history but then so is a number change, isn't it? Still I guess we all see these things differently.
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 29, 2014, 01:02:16 PM
It is always a difficult decision.  The Velocette has to go as I have too many projects and need some space.  I will never ride it again.
If I sold it with the number, the new owner may just decide to sell the number and benefit.

There is no way of knowing the actual value of the number as it depends on the market.
Many buyers would not pay the combined Bike and registration number value - why should they.

My A35 was to be scraped.  I sold the number MHK 33 to Mohammed H Khan £££ and the proceeds made it possible for me to restore my Morris Isis.
( I was following a BMW on the motorway many years later and it had my old number MHK 33)
I put the Isis number on a retention certificate because of the confusion over the no MOT before 1960 issue.

It is so much easier when the number is non transferable.

Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Grommet on March 29, 2014, 01:50:45 PM
Barry

I have no problem with number plates being sold but I will pay more for one with its original reg..

Yours incidentally has an earlier frame fitted probably from pre 53

I prefer one with a NT number as it saves all the stress!

I bought my last complete one in 2013 for £86 on ebay a 1965 12volt Ex Met police, an absolute bargain. I bought another incomplete this year for £26 .

A nice example should fetch £1000-1500 once up and running/ nicely restored but they are an absolute delight to ride.

Grommet
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 29, 2014, 04:35:42 PM
I had a Mk III when I was 17 in 1975  (NYE 118E) Lovely to ride if a bit slower than my next BSA A10 and then Yamaha 350 YR5.

The Mk II that I am selling is 1955 with its original frame and engine.  Not Ex police.
The hand change is novel and interesting but a pain to turn right - sticking your hand out and invariably trying to change gear and use the throttle.

I am keeping a MkIII tucked away.  It is more or less standard and good for restoration.

Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Grommet on March 29, 2014, 06:08:53 PM
NYE looks nice...

I prefer my hand change versions and right turns are fine if the correct MKII in line throttle is fitted, the MKIII type throttles tend to spring shut just when you are trying to slip down a gear but are fine with the foot change.

Grommet
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on March 29, 2014, 06:28:03 PM
NYE looks nice...

I prefer my hand change versions and right turns are fine if the correct MKII in line throttle is fitted, the MKIII type throttles tend to spring shut just when you are trying to slip down a gear but are fine with the foot change.

Grommet

Yes - Fitted with spring-back throttle, very tricky.
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Big Al on March 30, 2014, 07:50:32 AM
Did the Army use them as well? Sure some guy got three new ones in crates at an bid blind Army surplus. Story goes he bid on three similar cases expecting three more bikes, as did the others in the know. Turned out they were full of expensive horse shoe blanks or some equally inert steel.
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Grommet on March 30, 2014, 10:28:51 PM
Al

Not aware of the forces using them other than the police of course ...but quite a lot were used for Patrol work: Epping Forest Rangers, park rangers and the like... These were usually a special colour eg Epping rangers had them in post office red with the City of London logo  on the panniers, park rangers machines were usually green!!

Grommet
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on April 14, 2014, 02:11:32 PM
So
The Velocette has just been loaded onto transport to the Czech Republic with a final auction price of just under £500.  Perhaps this is a new market.  I was surprised at the price.
I have the name of the transport company who are delivering and picking-up from here, Great Yarmouth, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Grommet on April 15, 2014, 03:22:08 PM
A good price achieved but probably about right for its condition, bearing in mind that it would likely be a runner with a bit of tinkering.

Well Done

Grommet
Title: Re: Velocette LE
Post by: Barry on April 15, 2014, 04:57:23 PM
I was pretty happy but a lot more hours spent on paperwork and liaison with a foreign buyer.

Also, wise to have taken off the original registration number which would have been wasted in the Czech Republic.