c.1938 Rudge Ulster
In same family ownership 60+ years

Registration No: None
Frame No: 62956
Engine No: U2619
CC: 500
MOT: Exempt

• Interesting barn find project that has been family owned for over 60 years
• Fitted with the correct Bronze head, engine turns over with compression
• No paperwork but supplied with some correspondence from Rudge Club

The Rudge Ulster was made famous by Graham Walker's victory in the 1928 Ulster Grand Prix thus giving the bike its name. It was one of the first times a road race had been won at an average speed of more than 80mph, setting a lap record of over 82mph. In the same year Ernie Nott set a new two-hour world record at over 100 mph and went on to set further records in 1929. The bike became the mainstay of road racing in the day, even Enzo Ferarri running a race team in Italy using Rudges. It was supplied ready to race to privateers and was comparatively inexpensive so the Ulster went on to win many honours in the IoM TT and other international events. Unfortunately, works supported racing and the supply of race machinery ended around the mid-thirties with the death of Rudge- Whitworth principal and driving force J.V. PUGH and subsequent diversification into autocycles and other badly managed ventures caused the demise of the Rudge concern in 1940.

This barn find Rudge Ulster has been in the same family ownership for over 60 years and is in need of complete restoration but appears to be about 90% complete. Amazingly original with maybe the only major part missing being the headlamp, the engine turns over with compression and the all important bronze cylinder head is in place. The original looking plates suggest the bike had a registration number of 'EYV 178' but no paperwork has been found to back this up. A fascinating challenge to bring this rare bike back to life.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Cunningham
ian.cunningham@handh.co.uk
07415 871189