1933 New Imperial 350 Grand Prix, works 6 stud engine
Very Rare Machine

Registration No: 894 UXL
Frame No: 15/27019/TT
Engine No: 29396
CC: 350
MOT: Exempt

• New Imperial were regular competitors at the Isle of Man both as a works team and as factory-supported and sponsored private entries. For the 1933 season, they produced five 350cc engines of a unique design for their works team to contest the Junior TT. These engines are recognisable by the six external studs holding the cylinder and head to the crankcases

• The New Imperial factory engine build book currently held by the Club Historian for the New Imperial Owners Association confirms the engine numbers for these engines and 29396 is the second of the five produced. One other engine is known to still exist, but not in a complete bike

• The six stud 350 bikes were used in the 1933 and 1934 season races for the works team but weren’t successful and when New Imperial changed their racing approach, they were no longer required. The engines were put into Grand Prix frames for selling on and this bike with a frame dating from 1935, is the only known complete and working example

• Works frames had an additional lug to support a Sturmey Archer gearbox, whereas Grand Prix were fitted with an Albion box. All known early Grand Prix frames have a TT suffix the same as the works frames. This bike has the longer distance 4½ gallon petrol tank with separate triangular oil tank on the rear quarter frame and crossneck filler for pitstop oil filling

• This machine was purchased at some point in the late 1930s by Robert Sexé, a French journalist, traveller and adventurer who travelled extensively and often by motorcycle and was reputed to be the inspiration for the character Tintin. He kept the bike until his death in 1986, when his son sold the bike to renowned Paris collector André Kiéné. André had the bike rebuilt to its former glory and eventually sold it to the current owner in 2005

• It has been road registered in the UK and comes complete with rear numberplate and a road silencer, as well as a Brooklands can for track days with noise restrictions. The handlebar levers are currently ball end for ACU scrutineering and the originals are also provided for display. Paperwork includes a V5 and even some MOTs

• The bike last ran in 2019 and will require the usual safety checks and minor recommissioning.

For more information, please contact:
Mike Davis
mike.davis@handh.co.uk
07718 584217