• The last Brough to leave the factory in 1940 (see text)
• Matching frame and engine
• Single family ownership since the 1940s
• Restored by marque specialist Dave Clark

Legendary superbike of motorcycling's between-the-wars 'Golden Age', the Brough Superior was synonymous with high performance, engineering excellence and quality of finish. That such a formidable reputation was forged by a motorcycle constructed almost entirely from bought-in components says much for the publicity skills of George Brough. But if ever a machine was more than the sum of its parts, it was the Brough Superior. Always the perfectionist, Brough bought only the best available components for his motorcycles, reasoning that if the product was right, a lofty price tag would be no handicap. And in the 'Roaring Twenties' there were sufficient wealthy connoisseurs around to prove him right, T E Lawrence ('Lawrence of Arabia') being the most famous example.

The speed with which the name 'Brough Superior' established itself as synonymous with excellence may be gauged from the fact that the famous 'Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles' sobriquet was first coined in 1921 when the marque was barely two years old. The story goes that Rolls-Royce objected to their name being associated with a mere motorcycle - until they examined one of George's creations.

Launched in 1933, the 1,096cc 11-50 was the largest Brough Superior to enter series production. Powered by a sidevalve v-twin (of unusual 60-degree configuration) supplied exclusively to the Nottingham factory by J A Prestwich, the 11-50 fitted into the Brough price range between the SS80 touring and SS100 super-sports models. The 11-50 was conceived as a long-legged, effortless tourer and could exceed 90mph in solo form or pull a heavy sidecar at up to 75mph; indeed, in the latter role it was one of the finest sidecar mounts of its day. Production lasted until 1939, by which time the 11-50 was the only JAP-powered machine in the Brough Superior range.

This Brough Superior 11-50's despatch date of 2nd July 1940 is the latest recorded for 1940, making it almost certainly the last machine to leave the Nottingham factory before it turned to matters more important than the manufacture of motorcycles. The copy Works Record Card shows that 'CET 475' was supplied as a motorcycle combination to Enright Bros of Rotherham and was intended for police use. Frame number '2215' is the penultimate manufactured.

Continuing the story, an old-style buff logbook on file (issued 12th May 1949) shows that the owner at that time was Mr Richard Whitehead of Wath-on-Dearne, Rotherham. The Brough was licensed as a 'bicycle' (solo) the entry being annotated later with '& sidecar'. However, it is believed that 'CET 475' never entered police service, possibly due to changed priorities during wartime.

As was not uncommon then, Richard carried out maintenance himself; he also kept the Brough garaged, preserving it in good condition. On one fateful journey in the 1950s, he and his wife Violet were travelling on the Al in Aberford, Yorkshire when a violent thunderstorm forced them to stop. Unfortunately, the tree under which they were sheltering was struck by lightning and it fell on the Brough, bending the frame, which was replaced. The original frame was retained.

Richard passed away in 1977 and 'CET 475' transferred to his son-in-law Noel Kenning, during whose ownership the machine was kept garaged but hardly used. In 2000, the Brough Superior Club Technical Advisor, Dave Clark, straightened the original frame and reincorporated it into 'CET 475' while in the process of carrying out a thorough and fully documented renovation. During the rebuild, the Garrard sidecar (Lot 699 in this sale) was detached and the machine restored as a solo. In the 2000s, the motorcycle and sidecar were transported to Noel Kenning's daughter's house where they were well cared for in the warm dry garage. 'CET 475' was displayed and ridden at the Brough Superior Annual Rally at Middle Aston in 2013, but since then it has only been used a few times.

When Noel Kenning passed away in July 2015, the Brough passed to his daughter, the current owner. Last run circa 2017, 'CET 475' is described by the vendor as in excellent condition throughout. The accompanying history folder contains DVLA correspondence; old/current V5/V5C registration documents; Dave Clark's restoration notes; an original Brough Superior instruction book; and a selection of copy period photographs. A horn; battery case; pair of leg shields; and some minor spares and tools are included in the sale.