Excelsior
began manufacture of motorcycles in Coventry, England in 1896 under name
of Bayliss, Thomas and Co, adding to their range of penny farthing bicycles.
The first cycles had Minerva engines and were effectively mopeds. The firm
adopted the name of Excelsior in 1910.
After the Great War the Walker family ran the firm, producing a range
of motorcycles with engines by Blackburne, Villiers, J.A.P. and others,
ranging in capacity from 98cc to 1000cc.
Racing success on the Isle of Man brought popularity to the marque,
and the 1935 Manxman soon made inroads on the market initially with the
250cc four-valve model which was followed by the release of 350cc and 500cc
versions.
They struggled on through the dark days following the Second World War
for nearly two decades, finally ceasing production of motorcycles in 1965.
Other models manufactured included:
-
Mechanical Marvel 250cc (winner of the 1933 Lightweight TT)
-
Autobyke 98cc (1937)
-
Sprite 98cc (Built for Corgi of military motorcycle fame)
-
Excelsior JAP speedway bikes (1934 on)
-
Talisman two-stroke (1949) - later enlarged to 328cc
-
Excelsior Viking 1934 (249cc Villiers, water cooled)
-
Excelsior Path Finder 1935 (246cc)
-
Excelsior J8 Norseman 1939 (250cc)
-
Excelsior Talisman three-cylinder 492cc twostroke engines were fitted to
Berkeley cars in the late 1950's.
| Offers invited for this
rare historical machine.
This 1939 Excelsior Manxman J15 (one of
only ten built) is now for sale.
Complete with an original 1939 Excelsior
Catalogue, 1935-36 Edition Manxman
Handbook, an original letter from The
Excelsior Motor Company Limited (dated
8 Feb. 1949) and magazine articles giving
full history of this machine.
This machine is owned by Mr A.G. (Mick)
Holland (pictured on bike) who can
be contacted at 4 View Terrace, Huntsbury,
Christchurch, phone +64 3 332
1439, fax +64 3 312 7564 or email gray_clan@xtra.co.nz |
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