Beschreibung
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
29th Mar, 2023 12:00
1923 Lea Francis 3 1/ 2 HP
Celebrating its 100th birthday this year
Estimate
£10, 000 - £14, 000
Registration No: NW 4392
Frame No: A1706
Engine No: 2C1043017
CC: 500
MOT: Exempt
MAG engined Lea Francis V-twin
Restored many years ago, dry stored since
Supplied with a buff log book and a V5C
The Coventry based firm of Lea Francis was established in 1895 by Richard Lea and Graham Francis to manufacture bicycles and quickly gained a reputation for the quality of its products. A brief foray into car manufacture in 1903, with a vehicle using a three-cylinder engine, did not meet with the success that had greeted their bicycles and this may explain the firm's comparatively late entry into the world of motorcycle production in 1912. Development work commenced in 1911 culminating in the release a year later of a 3 1/ 4hp model powered by a JAP V-twin. As had been the case with their cycles, Lea Francis motorcycles quickly gained a reputation for quality and a few celebrity owners greatly enhanced the companies standing, with personalities such as George Bernard Shaw's purchasing one of their motorcycles. Between 1912 and 1924 approximately 1500 Lea Francis motorcycles are believed to have been built using proprietary engines supplied by the Swiss MAG concern or JAP, housed in their own frames. Motorcycle production ceased in 1924 enabling Lea Francis to concentrate their efforts on their newly introduced Meadows-powered light car that unlike its predecessor was proving to be a success.
This 1923 MAG-engined Lea Francis V-twin, from a deceased estate, has been owned by an enthusiast as part of a small private collection of pre-war bikes for many years. An experienced restorer since his teens, he restored this rare bike many years ago and then dry stored it inside his house for safekeeping. Now 100 years old, once recommissioned it should be eligible for events like the Banbury Run. Supplied with a buff log book and a current V5C, this presents as a rare opportunity to acquire one of the few Lea Francis models to have survived.
