1966 Velocette LE, 192 cc. Registration number TAR 27D. Fram...

Estimate

£1,000 - £1,500

1966 Velocette LE, 192 cc. Registration number TAR 27D. Frame number 8138'34. Engine number 8138'3.
Velocette's LE (little engine), affectionately known as 'The Policeman's Friend' because of its adoption by over 50 police forces, was announced in October 1948, the police riders became known as "Noddies" because they were required to nod to senior officers, and the LE was nicknamed "the Noddy Bike". It was acclaimed world-wide for its quietness in running, its enveloping 'coachwork', comfort and safety. Early models were powered by a 149cc engine; however in 1951 capacity was increased to 192cc for the Model LE 200. Advanced technical features included a water-cooled, twin-cylinder, horizontally-opposed engine, shaft final drive and pressed steel, box-section frame with readily adjustable rear springing. The LE was revolutionary but expensive to produce. In 1952 it was priced at £173 and offered a maximum speed of 55mph. It remained in production until 1971, having struggled against, but seen off, competition from the motor scooter during its long production run.
In 1958, Velocette launched the Mk III LE with a foot operated gear change and a conventional kick start. An extra gear was added, together with 18-inch-diameter wheels. The instrumentation was relocated to the head lamp, and the petrol capacity was increased from a meagre 1.25 to 1.62 imperial gallons
With ten years' development, the Velocette LE was more reliable and practical, but on 3 February 1971, the company went into voluntary liquidation. The very last motorcycles made in the Veloce factory were LEs. Production of other motorcycles had been delayed or cancelled to produce the LE in various forms, and the lucrative police orders had dried up with the introduction of the "panda car" for patrol use by most forces.
TAR was registered on the 11th November 1966 and had unknown early history but looking at the equipment on it one presumes it was owned by Local Government,TAR is a Hertfordshire registration. By 1981 it was MOT'd in Grimsby at 27,840 miles and further MOT's in 1991 and 1992 show the mileage up to 29,805 miles; today it is at 29,814, the last tax disc is 1993 so it has been off the road since then. John Shortland of Sleaford bought it in 1995 and then Hensley Cole of Sleaford in 2000. Our vendor bought it in 2013 and has stored it since.
Offered with a V5 (it tis recorded with DVLA) and the MOT's mentioned, this LE is an ideal restoration project for the next custodian.