Beschreibung:

Despite the demonstrable advantages of hub centre steering and the fact that the system had appeared at regular intervals since motorcycling’s earliest days, there has only been one pre-war machine that made it into volume production - the Ner-a-Car. Invented by American Carl A Neracher in 1919, it 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 and variable 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, side valve and overhead-valve 350cc Blackburne-engined versions, equipped with conventional three-speed gearboxes, followed. This American-built example was acquired some thirty years ago for a major Austrian collection, remaining in that collection until earlier this year and now released to be put back into service. It is smartly presented in green livery, retaining its original transfer on the petrol tank, and is equipped with oil rear lamp and a more appropriate electric front lamp replaces the oil lamp illustrated. We are advised that the machine will require work and the usual re-commissioning following a long period on museum display, but these quirky and highly individual vintage machines are indeed rare and this work will be handsomely rewarded – just the bike for the ever-popular VMCC Banbury Run.