Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tues 24th March from 1pm
Auction: Wed 25th March from 9am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
1975 Honda CB400F
No Reserve
Registration No: LDG 880P
Frame No: CB400F1053257
MOT: Exempt
Supremely original and well-preserved, and subject to some refurbishment around 2016
In regular use during the present collector ownership
Tremendous history file with invoices, M. O. T. s and tax discs running back to the 1970s
The Road and Race Collection
The Honda Motor Company was founded by Soichiro Honda in 1937, initially producing piston rings for Toyota. It made its first motorcycle in 1949 and within 10 years had become the biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. The CB400F (or 400 Four) was launched at the 1974 Cologne motorcycle show, evolving from the CB350F but with an increased bore and compression ratio. It went on sale in Britain in 1975, offered in Light Ruby Red or Varnish Blue. Claimed to produce 37bhp at 8, 500rpm, Bike magazine wound one up to 103. 8mph.
While the D. V. L. A. states this highly original example was registered in January, 1976, the first tax disc survives from December, 1975. In 1979, it was sold for £650 by City Road Motorcycles of Bristol to Henry Thomas Millard of Wiveliscombe, near Taunton. Millard was meticulous, having it serviced and tuned regularly between 1979 and 1984 by Fowlers of Bristol. A large collection of invoices and M. O. T. certificates run from 1979 to 1993, with tax discs from new to 1993, when the Honda apparently fell out of use for over twenty years. Invoices from David Silver Spares testify to some refurbishment during 2019, but the bike was not restored, and hence displays an excellent degree of originality and patina. The vendor, a keen motorcycle collector, bought it in 2024, and, after fitting new tyres and brake pads, has kept it in regular use. The history file also includes the sales invoice from City Road Motors, an historic V5, an original owner’s manual and CB400F parts list, plus the June, 1975, copy of Motorcycle Mechanics.
** 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).
