Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tuesday 8th July from 1pm
Auction: Wednesday 9th July from 9am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
1957 Ducati 100 Sport
No Reserve
Registration No: 816 YUB
Frame No: 250158
MOT: Exempt
Part of the Pip Higham Collection
Typically stylish Ducati single
Supplied with a current V5C
Pip Higham is a highly respected former motorcycle dealer, classic magazine columnist and record breaking drag racer who was inducted into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2017 after his exploits throughout his career. The background for all this success was Pip’s own business, the ‘Village Bike Shop’ in Manchester, where he provided a service for those who wished to go that little bit quicker than the rest. The quest for more performance saw him develope mainly Suzuki based specials, racing in the Streetbike class across Europe and ultimately America, becoming the first European into the ten second bracket and then the first rider ever into the nines. ‘The Deuce’, a VBS development producing 160 bhp using Pip’s own tuning parts, ran in the nine second bracket many times at terminal speeds up to 154 mph for the quarter mile. A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast Pip has also restored many bikes, especially Ducati singles, to a very high standard, sometimes incorporating subtle little modifications to improve performance.
This beautifully presented little Ducati, being offered at no reserve, has been restored by Pip keeping a good degree of originality using his many years of experience. In his own words....'I bought the 100cc Sport off an Ex Minardi F1 mechanic who rescued it from a bike shop in Italy, I didn’t even know Ducati made a 100cc ‘Monoalbero’ at the time, setting off a five year restoration of the ‘Little Blue Bike’. It appears to be an early one with an engine number of 250020, suggesting it's the 20th of its breed. The frame is distinctive in several respects, having a pressed steel down tube as opposed to a more normal round steel tube as seen on most of the later Ducati singles and the front engine mount is a ‘three bolt’ design, the rear section bolts on as opposed to being an integral loop and the pillion footrest supports are subtly different to the later ones, all details, but hopefully of interest to enthusiasts. In other areas the bike has undergone a very comprehensive rebuild, the engine benefits from all new bearings and many other new bits, the piston rings, for example are from two different varieties of Honda 90 as firstly the originals are a bit rare, and secondly the Honda ones are much better quality! The correct OEM Barruzzo steel rims are in place, and they even have genuine CEAT tyres fitted as per original. The list goes on, from the tiny Dell Orto UA19S carb to the ‘Catalux’ rear light, the correct ‘Super Pratic’ chain driven twistgrip and much more.' Not run since last year it will need the normal checks before use, supplied with a current V5C.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
