c.1936 Excelsior

Manxman 4-valve

Extremely rare ‘mechanical marvel’

Estimate: £34,000 - £38,000*

Reg No: Unregistered Frame No: Not visible

CC: 250 Engine No: Not visible

MOT: Exempt

• Believed, one of just 3 known to exist

• Running very well and recently used

• Very iconic race machine from the 1930s

Offered here is a very rare Excelsior Manxman 250cc OHC “Four Valve” machine as produced by Excelsior, initially to contest the 1936 Lightweight TT and Grand Prix races. The four-valve cylinder head configuration is one of, it is believed, only three 250s originally manufactured in this form. It has been in single ownership since the completion to original specification in 1999.

The machine here wears a cylinder head stamped number “5”, which is detailed in Excelsior works’ mechanic Tom Wildman’s notebook as being that fitted. Tyrell Smith’s machine which was lying second to Omobono Tenni’s Moto Guzzi in the 1937 Lightweight TT, when having consumed the contents of its gallon oil tank on lap 5 (6, according to the factory notes), it threw a rod, handing over second place to Ginger Wood on the remaining four valve Manxman at 74.5 mph. Displayed inside the house since then, it has been run occasionally, the last time whilst being demonstrated at the Bicester Heritage “Flywheel” event on Saturday, June 17th, 2023.