“The company so nice they named it twice.” I just made up that slogan, but it could have referred to either Veloce or Velocette, depending on which era you’re talking about, as the company has been known by both of those names. The seller refers to this one as a garage and/or barn find, but we don’t know exactly where it came from or how long it’s been sitting. It was with a large collection of motorcycles and has been sitting for an unknown number of years. They have this formerly hidden, non-running 1953 Velocette MAC 350 listed here on eBay in Lutz, Florida, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $2,950.
The company started making motorcycles in 1905 and their first bike was named the Veloce (fast). The two founders liked the name so much that they changed the company name from Taylor, Gue Ltd to Veloce. That was a wise move as Taylor, Gue Ltd doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. They made four-stroke motorcycles initially but started offering “speedy” two-stroke bikes in 1913 under the name Velocette (speedy). Again, they liked that name so much that they renamed the company yet again, this time to Velocette, which was in existence until 1971.
If a person just looks at the photos quickly – and this familiar seller always does an outstanding job of providing dozens of fantastic photos – this bike looks like a dream. The seat is a bit different from what would have been here originally, but I like it. I wouldn’t be against a single/saddle seat here either, although 1953 was the first year for a rear-sprung MAC 350, so that extra spring action may be redundant. It’s impossible to not like the look of this bike, isn’t it? I mean, maybe other than the seat, which sticks up a bit too high in the front. The seller does say that it’s just sitting on there for the photos, as are the exhaust and carburetor.
The company’s overhead-cam bikes were known as K-series, and once they started making overhead-valve engines, they named them with an M, as in the MOV 250. Then came the longer-stroke MAC 350 followed by the MSS 500, which was pushing the limits of single-cylinder technology at the time. You can see that this one needs a lot of work. A good rule of thumb is that if you can actually see the air in your tires, it’s time to replace them. Just kidding, 10 years max, no matter the number of miles.
This one needs a full restoration, or it does if a person wants to win trophies. Maybe it could just be refurbished enough to get everything working correctly and ridden in the cosmetic condition that it’s in now. The Velocette MOV 250-cc single was the basis for the MAC 350, which came out in 1933. At about 300 pounds and being a single-cylinder four two-stroke, they were, let’s say peppy numbers. A top speed of 75 mph was very doable. Hagerty is at $4,100 for a #4 fair-condition bike and $6,800 for a #2 excellent-condition example, so the next owner isn’t going to drop this one off at a shop and have it restored.
The engine is a 349-cc pushrod-operated OHV single-cylinder, which would have had 15 horsepower when new. Sadly, this one isn’t running and the seller doesn’t know if it even turns over. They say that the kickstarter just spins and doesn’t engage the engine. I’d bet that any Barn Finds motorcycle fanatic could have this one figured out and back on the road again in no time. This beauty would look great in anyone’s garage, have any of you owned a Velocette?
Wow! I died and went to heaven! I had a 1937 version of the MAC 350. S/N #MAC9944. Looked a lot like this one except mine was a hard-tail and had a girder front end. I got it along with a load of junk I hauled for scrap from a guy’s farm yard. It was rough and would have been better suited as a parts bike for another project. I still think about it from time to time and wonder if I could have taken a different pathway. Interesting that, as rough as it was, I got it running. But the transmission was so shot it wouldn’t work. But then, I was 15 back then. Maybe if it would’ve been 10 years later. Oh, it did go to an avid British bike collector who had some ideas of restoring it. I hope he succeeded…
I was hoping that you’d see this one, Geo!
A perfect candidate for the “Don’t hide it-ride it!” mindset. Nice find, Scotty. Is this going to your garage, sir??
On another note, imagine seeing 75mph then reaching for those (single shoe?) brakes-that make most mortals have to change the seat IMHO.
A classic without a doubt. Hope it finds its best partner rider.
The author knows his clients here, and what trips whoms(?) trigger. I’ve said many times, imagine what the staff DOESN’T print.
Sure is confusing,,,1st, 32 bids and $2750, let’s look at that for a sec. 32 bids indicates the amount of people in the world interested,,,and it’s a big world, btw, and 2nd, the price doesn’t jive with all the hype currently associated with stuff like this. Heard the name, but never actually saw or rode one. Closest thing was a guy 2 blocks over as a kid, had a Royal Enfield. It may look spindly, but I bet this was the best handling bike of the day. Reliable? Meh, probably on par with anything else. Price is right, and tells me, steam is fading. The buyer should probably have their own lathe, and again, what’s with the no air cleaner? That Trail 70 either, and many cars, an air filter is the most important thing, to not have one immediately signals a schmoe to me. Cool find, and will most certainly go to one of the 32 people that obviously already have several, but as a stand alone collectible, not much interest.
Beauty. Even better with air in the rear tire.
Nice old bike ! It needs the correct seat and carb. Unless it was for export these didn’t have an air filter. I have a 51 AJS 18 S that came with a compression plate under the cylinder to lower compression, stubby velocity stack and front license plate mount.
Now that you mention that the carburetor IS wrong. It should have that old Amal Remote Bowl mixer.
I believe they called those old Amals “ticklers”, and notice the adjustable-angle shocks? Nice touch!
I don’t think I heard the term “Tickler” in reference to the Amal Remote Bowl carb but it definitely suits it. I remember reading in many manuals about “tickling” the ‘carburettor’ before attempting to start the engine…
I’ll bet this one sounds like a British single should..seeing as that’s what it is…not like the “big” singles from Royal Enfield that sound like overgrown Hondas. Too bad this isn’t running. Parts would probably be hard to find and it’s going to need some. Nice find anyway.
I don’t think 2 strokes have pushrods.
I’m going to say that the writer made a little slip there. These bikes were definitely 4-strokes. I don’t think that Velocette ever built a 2-stroke…
Velocette most definitely DID build a 2 stroke earlier on. It was the Velocette GTP in 1930’s. The bike described is a 4 stroke.
Velocette Owner
Gaaa! Sorry about that typo, guys!
I fail to see why the seller cannot ascertain if the engine turns over, just because the kick starter doesn’t engage. Do what we used to do: Put it in neutral, push it and hop on, push in the clutch, put it in first and release the clutch. If it is siezed the rear tyre ( british) will lock and you will skid a foot or so. No big deal.
Yessir, and more than few of us got ours started accordingly when the battery went dead and/or the kickstart didn’t engage (or stripped the teeth off..).
Might be another reason the sellers is parting with it-thought originally it might make a good “investment” but doesn’t know enough about the mechanicals to actually work on it, perhaps?
My 1956/7 BSA Gold Star 500 came to me as an ex racing machine, sans kick start, that the owner had pranged and the frame was buckled. The local dealer transferred everything to a new frame and I traded in my 1958 Triumph Tiger 110 for it. I owned it for a year or so and bump started it every time. I would have had to do this anyway as my right ankle was wrecked from when I sideswiped a concrete column when I thought I was a better rider than I actually was! Spent a year in and out of hospital for that one. It had a valve lifter so wasn’t too much of a problem. The beautiful bike in the picture wasn’t mine but is identical, apart from the kick start.
What if the transmission is bad?
Bought a 500cc ’68 Venom Veeline new and picked it up at the ancient factory. Fun bike, but the oddball clutch was the weak link (pun intended). This project belongs with a Velo Fellow who can do his own work. There’s a small but active owner’s group, mostly in California, and most parts are available. Price here looks fair. An honorable project!
Back in the ’70s I bought a 1968 750 Royal Enfield from a fellow who was an expert on and collector of British motorcycles. It was a beautiful bike but the spokes were not chromed. He jokingly told me that the Brits did not chrome the spokes because there was always so much oil leaking from their engines that the spokes would forever be coated with oily rust-proofing. My future experience proved that it wasn’t so much of a joke.