Description
One of the most significant ‘Works Racing’ Brough Superior SS100 models ever constructed, completed by the Works in April 1926 for J. O. Cunliffe in full racing specification with extensive unique competition features, the sole Brough Superior ever finished in Mauve paintwork and fully documented on the Brough Superior Works Record
Highly successful competition history with over twenty pre war podium finishes at Southport Sands, Saltburn and entrant in the 1926 Ulster Grand Prix with surviving footage! Retained by Cunliffe from new until 1967 and raced by him until 1960, with possibly the longest continuous competition history of any Brough Superior
Offered for the first time on the open market direct from 41 years of private ownership, full history below:
The Brough Superior SS100 was the ultimate sporting motorcycle constructed in Great Britain during the golden age of motorcycling built between 1924-1938. Such was the astounding quality of the machines ‘The Motor Cycle’ newspaper dubbed them ‘The Rolls Royce of motorcycles’ and George Brough personally guaranteed that each of his bikes would achieve a minimum of 100 MPH!
The sporting prowess of the model was demonstrated with great success at the banked Brooklands circuit and Brough Superior achieved the mighty accolade of two World Land Speed records in 1924 (118. 99 MPH) and 1929 (129. 0 MPH) piloted on both occasions by chief J. A. P development engineer and talented works rider Bert Le Vack
The marque enjoyed a long association with T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) who was a loyal customer and notable ambassador of the Nottingham firm, having owned seven different road going Brough models throughout his lifetime with an eighth machine on order before his untimely death.
Considered by many as most desirable of all BS models are the vintage (pre 1930) SS100 models, in particular those fitted with ‘finned elbow’ aluminium exhaust manifolds (not dissimilar in design to those seen on the mighty Alfa Romeo 6C and 8C models of the period) and noted for their outstanding beauty and exceptional proportions with scintillating performance to match, provided by the famed 1000cc V Twin competition derived J. A. P engine.
Just 281 SS100 machines were constructed with J. A. Prestwich engines and of those less than 10% were built from new to ‘SS100 Racing’ specification by the works, making these machines the rarest and most desirable of all the SS100 variants
The Works Record for this machine was issued on 4th June 1926 to Cunliffe (Platts) denotes ‘SS100 Racing - Mauve finish’ and issued with frame number ‘857’. The bike was collected from the Works on 4th June and assigned with Nottingham registration ‘TO 3461’
Jack Cunliffe (J. O. Cunliffe) was the son of Alfred and born in 1902, followed by his sister May four years later in 1906. Both Jack and May had petrol running through their veins from an early age and were both highly competent and noted racers of the 1920s/ 30s, both on two wheels and four.
Whilst Jack focused on competition events on motorcycles, May was busy earning her reputation as a highly capable lady driver, initially utilising her 3 Litre W. O. Bentley racer that was later supercharged, pre-dating the fifty ‘Blower’ Bentley’s constructed by Tim Birkin in the late 1920s.
The Cunliffe’s were fortunate to have access to some of the greatest sporting machinery of the period which included various Bentley’s, Bugatti’s and a 2 litre supercharged Sunbeam GP car, purchased directly from the Sunbeam works following a family visit! This seriously potent machine allowed May to beat ace Sunbeam Works Driver Segraves best time at Shelsley Walsh taking the ‘Woman’s Record’ in 1928 at 51. 2 seconds!
Cunliffe’s quest for speed naturally led him towards the mighty Brough Superior SS100 and he acquired his new machine from the Brough Superior Works in Haydn Road, Nottingham, via Percy Platt, a motorcycle dealer based in Union Street, Oldham, close the Cunliffe family residence in Manchester.
‘Platts’ refers to Percy Platt, a motorcycle dealer based in Union Street, Oldham, close the Cunliffe family residence in Manchester. According to Mike Leatherdale (BS Machine Registrar) Platt handled the sale of various Brough Superior bikes throughout the 1920s, he also acted as ‘sports agent’ for Oldham based dare devil speedway rider Clem Beckett.
Remarks on the Works record for 857 note; ‘Gearbox less kickstart crank, narrow guards, rear footrests only, coupled brakes with special toe brake on left hand side, handlebars 2’’ forward, sandskid, magneto cut out, George Dance knee grips on straps from tank to seat stay bolt’
‘Mosely belly rest, bulb horn, rear tool bags, handlebar lever control to oil pump for timing gear, clips on exhust pipes, licence plate holder, open chain cover, no front stand, large front brake, bottom shock absorbers, oiling to front chain and canvas tubing for oilpipes’
The extensive competition history outlined below documents at least seventeen pre-war competitive events that Cunliffe rode the SS100 (all of which are featured in leading motorcycle magazine of the period) the vast majority of which were podium finishes! His early success aboard the Sandracer was recognised by the Brough Superior factory who listed him in their official 1927 Catalogue ‘J. O. Cunliffe 8 firsts’
Cunliffe owned and raced the bike for a further 41 years until it was sold by his estate
following his passing in 1967
Cunliffe Competition History
July 1926 Southport- J. O. Cunliffe – Motorcycling July 7th+ The Motorcycle July 8th
• 1st Sidecar Unlimited cc General
• 1st Sidecar Unlmited cc Novice
• 1st Sidecar 20 Mile Race Unlimited cc
August 1926 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe- The Motorcycle August 19th
• 1st 50 Mile Unlimited Race
• 2nd 20 Mile Sidecar Race Unlimited
September 4th 1926 ULSTER Grand Prix – J. O. Cunliffe – The Motorcycle August 26th - Motorcycling September 8th - British Pathe Film
• Bike No. 78 – 4th over 500cc Class – 3hrs 26 mins and 57 secs
October 1926 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe – The Motorcycle October 14th
• 2nd One Mile solo race Unlimited cc General
• Retired with blown cylinder head gasket
December 1926 – J. O. Cunliffe – The Motorcycle December 9th
• Awarded Williamson Cup – Southport MC
1927 Brough Superior Catalogue – Cunliffe
• ‘Successes – During the first season private owners have won more than 100 firsts and fastest times of the day, a few are summarised below;
• J. O. Cunliffe – 8 Firsts
January 1927 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe – Motorcycling January 12 – The Motorcycle January 13th
• 2nd Straight Mile solo race Unlimited cc General
• 1st Straight Mile Unlimited cc Novice
• 1st Straight Mile Unlimited cc Novice
• 1st 10 Mile Sidecar Race Unlimited cc
March 1927 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe -– The Motorcycle 17th March
• 50 Mile Race – DNF
April 1927 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe– Motorcycling 13th April – The Motorcycle 14th April
• 3rd 1000cc Straight Mile Solo
• 3rd All Comers Straight Mile Solo
• 2nd 50 Mile Solo Machines 1000cc
• 3rd Straight Mile Side Car 1000cc General
May 1927 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe– Motorcycling 11th May
• 4th 50 Mile Solo 1000cc
August 1927 Stalybridge – J. O. Cunliffe – The Motorcycle 11th August
• 1st Novice Standing Start Sidecar
• 1st Novice Flying Start Sidecar
August 1927 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe – Motorcycling 24th August – The Motorcycle 25th August – Motorsport October 1927
• 1st 50 Mile solo 1000cc General
September 1927 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe -The Motorcycle 22nd September
• 3rd Flying Kilometer Solo 1000cc General
• 1st Flying Kilometer Solo 1000cc Novice 98. 11 MPH
• 3rd Straight Mile Solo 1000cc General
• 2nd Straight Mile Solo 1000cc Novice
• 2nd 50 Mile Sidecar 1000cc Novice
• 2nd 10 Mile Sidecar Race Unlimited
December 8th 1927 – J. O. Cunliffe cited in ‘Sand Racing – An Account Of Principle Beach Meetings Of The Year’ – The Motorcycle
January 1928 Southport- J. O. Cunliffe – January 18th Motorcycling – January 19th The Motorcycle
• 3rd Straight Mile Solo 1000cc
• 25 Mile Solo – DNF – damaged front cylinder
May 1928 Southport –J. O. Cunliffe - May 3rd The Motorcycle
• 2nd Straight Mile Solo 1000cc General
• 1st Straight Mile Solo 1000cc Novice
June 21st 1928 Southport – Alfred Edmund Cunliffe Death
• Alfred Edmund Cunliffe, father of Jack and May Cunliffe was killed riding passenger with May Cunliffe onboard her Sunbeam during the 100 Mile Race on the Birksdale Sands.
• Alfred aged 61 of Tor Mellor, Derbyshire is cited in a news report ‘Left £10, 345 net Personally £10, 219’. This amounts to approximately £4. 5M GBP in 2025
July 1930 Yorkshire Speed Championships – Saltburn – Middlesborough Long Distance Programme – J. O. Cunliffe – The Motorcycle July 10th 1930
• Unlimited Championship - DNF
October 1930 Southport – J. O. Cunliffe -Motorsport November 1930 and The Motorcycle Oct 9th 1930
• Championship Race – Two fastest cars v. Two fastest Bikes - 2nd Standing Start One Mile race with two fastest bikes and cars – Clocked 106. 52 mph behind Carr at 108. 59MPH ahead of J. Field (1485cc Talbot) and G. Daybell (Vauxhall 4234cc)
July 1931 Saltburn Sands – J. O. Cunliffe – The Motorcycle 16th July 1931
• 4th Flying Kilometer Record Attempt 24. 2 Seconds at 92. 44 MPH
October 1944 – Motorsport – ‘Cars I have owned by J. O. Cunliffe’ – two page report
July 1945 - Motorcycling – J. O. Cunliffe – ‘Nine Years Of Sand Part 11’ - July 5th 1945
1958-1960- Shelsey Walsh Hillclimb – J. O. Cunliffe and Mrs Shirley Cunliffe
• Sidecar Hillclimb Runs
Witchford 1960 – J. O. Cunliffe – The Rolls Royce of M/ Cycles Clark
• Vintage Mile – Cunliffe 41. 65 secs
Barbon Hillclimb 1960 – J. O. Cunliffe near Kirkby Lonsdale (Cumbria)
Post Cunliffe History
1967 – Sydney Plevin bought the bike for the princely sum of £70 from Cunliffe estate sale arranged by Mrs Cunliffe. Plevin was a respected AJS specialist dealer who had known Cunliffe since the 1920s and raced at Southport (see Motorcycling April 4th 1929) and later sold to Dave Shotton – an well known early Brough Club member and owner of a number of SS100’s
1978 -Shotton kept the bike until c1978 before selling to Julian Ghosh, famed Vauxhall 30-98 restorer who did very little with it before selling in 1982 then to John Roberts of Essex, who later applied and obtained the original UK road registration ‘T0 3461’
Current – Acquired by the current owner in 1984, a noted Brough Superior expert and who much like Cunliffe, is now in his forty-first year of ownership, its purchase was guided by the late Brooklands racing motorcycle expert and author, Dr Joseph Bayley, who helped determine it was the infamous Cunliffe racer, having been off the road since the late 1960s, which was subsequently confirmed by Brough Club registrar Mike Leatherdale
The vendor states ‘Over the course of 1985 I restored the bike back to its correct 1926 Cunliffe specification and throughout the late 1980s we raced the bike on methanol with great success at various sprint meetings at Brands Hatch, Brooklands, Bruntingthorpe aerodrome and over venues, my chum Dick LeHeup was a very capable Brough rider and affectionately named it ‘The Purple Bastard’, a name which has stuck to this day!
We have shown the bike at numerous Brough Club events over the years (listed below) and many Brooklands reunions, the bike was invited to Goodwood Festival Of Speed in 2008 and was displayed at the centenary of the SS100 at the International Classic Motorcycle Show at Stafford in April 2025. We enjoyed celebrating the centenary of the SS100 at Kop Hill this year too!’
May 18th 1986 – BMF Rally Sprint - East Of England Showground, Peterborough – Dick LeHeup
May 26th 1986 - VMCC Bruntingthorpe Sprint – Dick LeHeup
June 29th 1986 – Brooklands Society 19th Annual Reunion – Dick LeHeup certified standing ¼ mile at 16. 8 Seconds at 53. 57 MPH
September 1986 – Motorcycle Sport – ‘Blazing Brooklands’ report on the 19th Brooklands Society Reunion
March 1993 – Motorsport Magazine – ‘Four generations’ by Bill Boddy – The history of the Cunliffe family racing exploits
October 1996 – 15th International Classic Bike Show Stafford – Best Racing Machine Award
2001 – Coys International Historic Festival – Rockingham Speedway
July 2008 – Goodwood Festival Of Speed
August 2008 – 50th Anniversary Brough Superior Club Rally – Display
September 2012 – Salon Prive Concours D’Elegance – Syon Park
August 2018 – 60th Anniversary Brough Superior Club Rally –
April 2025 – International Classic Bike Show – Stafford – ‘100 Years of SS100’
August 2025 – The Classic Motorcycle – Sketchbook Travels illustration by Martin Squires
September 2025 – Kop Hillclimb, SS100 Centenary
