1938 Velocette MT500

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Frame No: N/A
Engine No: N/A
cc: 500
MOT Expiry Date: N/A

Although Velocette never produced a 500cc production version of the KTT they did build at least two machines for the works riders Woods and Mellors who campaigned them in the years leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. The machines used a slightly modified KTT frame complete with the, for the time, innovative swinging arm rear suspension system, and KTT cycle parts. The engine, which was slightly taller than the 350cc unit thus necessitating the modifications to the frame, shared its 81mm x 96mm bore and stroke with the MSS, with fuel being supplied via 1 15/16 inlet valve by a 1 7/32 inch Amal RN carburettor. One of the 500cc machines eventually found its way, in a distressed state, into Rod Colemans collection in New Zealand.
Mr Coleman states in correspondence supplied with this machine that "in building the '39 MK8, '49 MK8 and MT500 used some parts from the very rough remains of two MK8's and a 500...actually very little was usable". He goes on to explain that the 500 had been blown up following its export to Australia in 1939 with the connecting rod going through the crankcases and the cylinder head splitting in half, necessitating the manufacture of patterns from the original components from which he was able to have new components made, eventually building three complete engines which he used to build three machines.
The machine offered is one of the three built by Rod Coleman using a mixture of original parts and specially made components manufactured for the project. It is presented to a very high standard but will require some fettling of the lubrication system prior to use.