1959 Francis Barnett Plover 78, 147 cc. Registration number ...

Estimate

£1,800 - £2,200

1959 Francis Barnett Plover 78, 147 cc. Registration number FJK 440 (non transferrable). Frame number Z7595. Engine number 295 B 27969.
Founded in 1919 by Gordon Francis and Arthur Barnett and based in Lower Ford Street, Coventry, their early motor cycles were affectionately known as ' Franny B'. Motorcycles were produced for enthusiasts and were reasonably affordable for citizens for use as general transport. The majority of the lighter motorcycles used Villiers two-stroke engines and later Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) engines. Francis Barnett was amalgamated with AMC in 1947 and brought back the Cruiser names with a 171cc AMC engined Light Cruiser. The motorcycles Plover, Falcon and Cruiser were successful right into the 1950's as good light machines in Arden Green rather than the black finish of earlier days, whilst James machines were in maroon. AMC considered based Villiers to be dictatorial and they commissioned Italian designer Vincenzo Piatti to design a new engine to replace the Villiers one. Unfortunately this did not work well due to cost and unreliability of the AMC manufactured engine and they reverted back to a Villiers engines again.
The FB offered here is a re-working of the James Cadet L15, the frame letter coding Z signifies it as a 1958 model, the 295B prefix of the engine identifies it as a Villiers 30C 147cc engine.
FJK, is matching numbers and was first registered on the 30th May 1959 by Jemsons Ltd of Eastbourne to Arthur Colbran of Hailsham in the June. By 1963 it was with Geoffrey Davis of Hailsham and in March 1966 Ian Whitehorn of Lewes. It appears then to have been stored and by 2013 it was recommissioned by Stephen Thornton of Brough and he applied for the registration number to be re issued (now non transferrable). Sold to Sam Wesley of Pickering in 2014 who undertook more recommissioning our vendor bought it in 2016 and again continued its recommissioning.
It is now being sold as our vendor has decided sell his collection due to his advancing years, it should only require gentle recommissioning.
Sold with the V5C, R.F.60, dating certificate and various receipts.