Description
This is a very rare bike by any standards with only 327 units ever sold according the panther owners club! The model 50 was phelon & moore's attempt at a faster middleweight with more pulling power. It has the heavyweight forks, plus 8" brakes front and rear, a unique valanced front mudguard and bathtub rear enclosure. Obviously these machines were never common and being complete this is one of very few survivors, made especially rare with all its original tinware. Although marketed as a 350 the engine is a villiers 3t 325cc two stroke twin with a 4 speed gearbox. Declared manufactured in 1959 on the logbook the previous owner told be it was restored in 2009 & allocated a new registration by dvla as an historic vehicle. The original registration would have either been lost altogether or erased from dvla's records which often happened before records were computerised. There has only been 2 owners since being restored. The photographs hardly do justice to how good this bike looks in the flesh. It has obviously undergone an excellent restoration with all the maroon parts having been powder coated. The tyres, chain & sprockets look almost new. The speedometer was only recently fitted & shows only 3 miles which were done by me whilst test riding & shooting the video. The actual mileage is unknown. Starts easily. Runs & rides perfectly. The gearbox is best i've ever experinced in a villiers engine & works perfectly. The previous owner told me that the engine was rebuilt by villiers engineering at considerable cost although there's no receipts to substantiate this i have no reason to doubt it. This bike certainly attracts attention, i had two people coming up to admire it in just the half an hour i was out on it. The vin & engine numbers are intact & match those shown on the current v5 logbook. Apart from the logbook there's also printed copies of the workshop manual, villiers engine handbook with spare parts list & a lucas spare parts list present as pictured. Overall a very rare, beautifully restored british classic that can be ridden. A good investment too & keenly priced to sell so be quick!
