1930s Motosacoche 420 STM

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Frame No: 510632
Engine No: 24717

The Swiss Motosacoche concern were at the forefront of motorcycle development throughout the pioneer, vintage and post vintage periods. British enthusiasts may not be that familiar with the motorcycles bearing the name but will be aware of their proprietary engines, marketed under the MAG name that were used by firms such as Brough Superior, Rex Acme, Ariel, Matchless and Morgan, . The firm was founded in 1899 by Armand and Henry Dufaux, initially producing "clip-on" engines with capacities of 241cc and 290cc before moving on to the production of complete machines with engines ranging in capacity from 247cc to 996cc vee twins. The company's success was such that they were able to establish branch factories in Lyon and Milan and in addition to marketing their proprietary engines licensed Royal Enfield in England and Triumph in Germany to manufacture them.
During the late twenties the firm employed designers of the calibre of Bert le Vack and Dougal Marchant, who was responsible for the design of a series of rapid overhead cam singles from 248cc to 498cc used to great effect by riders such as Wal Handley who won the 350 and 500cc classes in the 1928 Grand Prix of Europe with them.
During the 1930's the company offered a range of singles and superb 846cc side valve vee twin, designed by Le Vack, his last design before he was killed testing one.
The example offered is a 1934 over head valve 496cc model 420 equipped with a hand operated gearbox that was replaced for the following season by a foot operated unit. The machine, as with the other sporting models in the range, is equipped with a set of girder forks, the touring models typically employing forks of a similar design to that used by Harley Davidson. The over head valve single features a twin exhaust port head and is housed in a rigid diamond frame with twin front downtubes. It has been restored to a very high standard with attractive beige and red paintwork and is offered with Swiss documents.