Beschreibung
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
15th November, 2023 13:00
1937 Rudge Ulster
The famous 500cc 'Ulster'
Estimate
£6, 000 - £8, 000
Registration No: GME 491
Frame No: 60566
Engine No: U2181
CC: 500
MOT: Exempt
Authentically presented 500cc Ulster
Bronze head with twin exhaust ports
Older restoration supplied with a V5C
The Rudge Ulster was made famous by Graham Walker's victory in the 1928 Ulster Grand Prix thus giving the bike its name. It was one of the first times a road race had been won at an average speed of more than 80mph, setting a lap record of over 82mph. In the same year Ernie Nott set a new two-hour world record at over 100 mph and went on to set further records in 1929. The bike became the mainstay of road racing in the day with even Enzo Ferarri running a race team in Italy using Rudges. It was supplied ready to race to privateers and was comparatively inexpensive so the Ulster went on to win many honours in the IoM TT and other international events. Unfortunately, works supported racing and the supply of race machinery ended around the mid-thirties with the death of Rudge- Whitworth principal and driving force J. V. PUGH and subsequent diversification into autocycles, and other badly managed ventures caused the demise of the Rudge concern in 1940. The Ulster, sporting its distinctive bronze head, has become one of the most sought after bikes of the era.
This authentically presented 1937 Rudge Ulster has been part of an enthusiast small private collection for a number of years. Not much is known of its early history but it was bought by the vendor in 2003 and restored by him over the intervening years, keeping as much originality as possible and doing very few miles since. Still sporting its all important bronze cylinder head the bike has not been run for the last couple of years so will need recommissioning before use but the engine turns over with compression and the gears select. A rare chance to acquire one of the best bikes from the pre war era supplied with a current V5C.
