Beschreibung:

The Birmingham firm of New Hudson started out as a bicycle manufacturer. The company’s first powered machine of 1903 used a clip-on Minerva engine, and this was followed by the first proper motorcycle in 1910. New Hudson made its Isle of Man TT debut in 1911, but major competition success eluded the Birmingham firm until Bert Le Vack took over racing development in 1927, becoming the first man to lap Brooklands at over 100mph on a 500cc machine that same year. Le Vack’s mount was powered by a development of New Hudson’s own overhead-valve engine that had first appeared at the Isle of Man TT in 1924, and this handsome power unit was also used by the factory team in the ‘Island’ in 1927, works rider Jimmy Guthrie finishing the Senior race in second place. New Hudson announced a new range for 1931, but the onset of economic depression did little to encourage sales and in 1933 the company, by then manufacturers of Girling automotive components, ceased to build motorcycles. There was a brief return in 1940 with the New Hudson Autocycle, later built by BSA. Capitalising on its 1927 Senior TT success, New Hudson introduced the Plus Power model, available to special order with a Le Vack-tuned engine, of which this machine is a rare surviving example. We are advised that the VMCC’s New Hudson marque specialist Mr Eric Londesbrough has identified the engine as a dry sump (DS), 500cc (F), tuned (T) unit number ‘45’. Other noteworthy features include ‘TT’-stamped cams; three-speed, close-ratio gearbox; race-engine pushrod tubes; adjustable footrests and strutted Druid girder forks. The history of the motorcycle is not known prior to its acquisition by the vendor in the 1990s from a collection of unrestored machines, where it is presumed to have resided since the 1950s. An indication that the machine has been in use in Switzerland is the ‘Bellinzona’ sales agent’s plaque on the front mudguard. Lighting was available as an optional extra on this model, although this example’s (already fitted at time of purchase) may be of later origin. Careful and thorough restoration was undertaken between 2000 and 2002, although the vendor’s business commitments prevented him from running the bike until early 2006, since when it has been carefully run in. To facilitate the shakedown process a more modern carburettor has been fitted as a temporary measure (the original Binks ‘mousetrap’ carburettor is included). Some 300-or-so miles have been covered since completion and the machine - said to run beautifully - comes with Swiss roadworthiness certificate.