1937 Ivory Calthorpe Major, 494cc. Registration number WXS 6...

Estimate

£6,500 - £7,500

1937 Ivory Calthorpe Major, 494cc. Registration number WXS 679 (non transferrable). Frame number M3-2411. Engine number M5/1272.
Sold with the V5C.
The Calthorpe Motor Co of Birmingham was established by bicycle maker George W. Hands who, in 1904, made his first motor cars, a 10 hp four cylinder model. Motorcycles were introduced in 1909 and were built by the Minstrel and Rea Cycle Co. of Birmingham, using a 3½ hp White and Poppe engine.
In 1925 the all-new 348cc Sports model arrived with their own engine, in 1927 a 498cc ohc single appeared, the Ivory Calthorpe was introduced in 1929. The range continued with 247cc, 348cc and 494cc engines but by 1937 the firm selling them, Pride and Clarke of London, went into liquidation and was bought by Bruce Douglas, who moved the plant to Bristol. In 1939 Douglas announced a three-model range using Matchless engines. A few of these were built before the factory turned to war efforts. Post war the name reappeared as Calthorpe-DMW, using a 122cc Villiers engine. By 1950, this had led to the formation of the DMW marque.
WXS is in running order and was ridden around our grounds by the vendor. It is an older restoration that still presents very well.
There is a video available of it running.