Despite the demonstrable advantages of hub centre steering and the fact that the system has appeared at regular intervals since motorcycling’s earliest days, there had only ever been one machine - before the advent of Yamaha’s GTS - that made it into volume production - the Ner-a-Car. Invented by American Carl A Neracher in 1919, the machine was built under licence in the UK by Sheffield Simplex, using part of what had been the Sopwith Aviation works in Kingston-on-Thames. The basic design remained unaltered - pressed-steel chassis, voluminous front mudguard, hub-centre-steering, friction drive transmission - but whereas US-built models were powered by a two-stroke engine of 221cc, Sheffield Simplex chose to fit their own 285cc unit. Four-stroke sidevalve and (later) overhead-valve 350cc Blackburne-engined versions equipped with conventional three-speed gearboxes followed. Endowed with excellent handling and weather protection, the Ner-a-Car was a great success, production only ceasing in 1926 because of problems within other parts of the Sheffield Simplex group. This US-built Ner-a-Car had already been restored when it was purchased by Professor Ehn in 1978, and since the Museum’s opening has been on display. The machine is offered without documents.
Despite the demonstrable advantages of hub centre steering and the fact that the system has appeared at regular intervals since motorcycling’s earliest days, there had only ever been one machine - before the advent of Yamaha’s GTS - that made it into volume production - the Ner-a-Car. Invented by American Carl A Neracher in 1919, the machine was built under licence in the UK by Sheffield Simplex, using part of what had been the Sopwith Aviation works in Kingston-on-Thames. The basic design remained unaltered - pressed-steel chassis, voluminous front mudguard, hub-centre-steering, friction drive transmission - but whereas US-built models were powered by a two-stroke engine of 221cc, Sheffield Simplex chose to fit their own 285cc unit. Four-stroke sidevalve and (later) overhead-valve 350cc Blackburne-engined versions equipped with conventional three-speed gearboxes followed. Endowed with excellent handling and weather protection, the Ner-a-Car was a great success, production only ceasing in 1926 because of problems within other parts of the Sheffield Simplex group. This US-built Ner-a-Car had already been restored when it was purchased by Professor Ehn in 1978, and since the Museum’s opening has been on display. The machine is offered without documents.
.jpg "Source: Setdart Auction House")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
