1972 Cotton Cavalier Expert, 170 cc. Registration number PHJ...

Hammer

£1,400

1972 Cotton Cavalier Expert, 170 cc. Registration number PHJ 220 K (see text). Frame number XTM 7112.Engine number EX 3612.
In the 1960s, Cotton was going from success to success on the strength of their close relationship with Villiers Engines. In 1965, Villiers was bought by Manganese Bronze and then consolidated in 1966 with AMC under the Norton-Villiers banner. In 1967, Villiers decided that instead of supplying other manufacturers with their competition engines, they would build and launch their own complete motorcycles under the AJS brand using the 250 Starmaker engine as a base. Villiers had plans to build a range of scramblers and an over the counter 250 road racer.
This was the beginning of the end for Cotton. With the loss of their long-time engine manufacturer, Cotton was forced to look abroad for another supplier. By 1969, Cotton was using the Italian Minarelli engine to make the Cavalier trials bike and the ISDT Enduro, but production was very small at only five bikes a week being manufactured and success was elusive. These bikes could also be purchased in kit-form for a tax savings, but Cotton's kit bike business was soon hit by government legislation, further dealing a blow to the company.
Cottons moved to Stratton Road in 1970 where, in addition to motorcycles, they produced the Cotton Sturdy, a three wheel works truck. During the next ten years they moved premises several times in and around Gloucester before finally moving to Bolton in 1978. They produced a good 250 cc racing machine fitted with a ROTAX engine. However, they were unable to continue due to financial difficulties and closed down in 1980.
PHJ was first registered on the 2nd March 1972 as WGV 65K by Douglas Theobald of Risby, Suffolk, the legendary DOT trials works rider; he only kept it for that season before selling it in the August to John Biggs of Hildersham in Cambridgeshire. He then sold it via Mike Bavin Motorcycles of Diss to John Lawrence of Norwich on the 6th January 1973 for £190. It was used for several years before being laid up until 1986 when it emerged after a house move. John recommissioned it and re registered it due to not having its records updated with DVLA (now PHJ 220K). John was not competitive due to the passage of time so sold it to Ray Holloway for £250 for Army Cadets to use in 1987. Ray did not take the V5 to register it as it was being used off road.
In February 1996 Leslie Potter of Braintree in Essex bought it for £395 and set about finding out its history which included finding John Lawrence who gave him all of the earlier paperwork. He did not use on the road and sold it to our vendor, an ardent trialist who has stored it in a heated garage for many years.
This rare 1972 Cotton Cavalier has now emerged again and now deserves to be used as Douglas Theobald would have done back in the day. It will need recommissioning, again!
Sold with the R.F.60, various V5's, various MOT's in both registration numbers, various receipts for works undertaken, John Lawrence's extensive notes and the original photocopy manual.