The MSS was Birmingham-based Velocette’s all-new model for the late 1930s, introduced in 1935 and offering good comfort and reliable, high-speed touring performance. Its success was stymied by the Second World War, during which Velcoette’s factory was turned over to arms manufacture.
The MSS returned to production immediately post-war and for a while saw a moderate boom, with strong sales in the early 1950s and successful US exports, as well as providing the basis for the record-breaking Velocette Venom, which achieved a 100mph endurance record in 1961.
But by then, single-cylinder bikes were old hat, and the MSS was struggling to compete with the more advanced twin-cylinder bikes from other British makers. By 1967, the writing was on the wall and while Velocette officially continued for another three years, it failed to make a profit. A sad swansong for one of the most quality-focused bike manufacturers in the UK – something that was core to Velocette’s appeal back then and is even more so today, with collectors favouring not only the impeccable build but also the rarity of Velocette’s models.
Venom aside, the MSS is the most sought-after – the high point of the company’s model history and one that’s increasingly collectable, especially the 1954-on 500cc models, which were strong performers and comfortable cruisers.
The MSS is the flagship of the Velocette range and is still capable of holding its own in modern traffic conditions. This one is a wonderfully original matching numbers example in lovely, well-preserved order, ready to be used and enjoyed by a new enthusiastic owner.
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