Last of the Brit-built Broughs

This is the last British-built Brough Superior, and potentially the last example of what was once the most desirable marque in motorcycling.

Produced by brothers Les and Dave Card, it was the final SS100-based machine created before rights to the brand were sold overseas. Powered by their own JAP-based engine – another old British marque inherited from their father Alec – it’s now up for sale. They’re expecting offers of around £100,000 and are planning a limited run of replicas to celebrate the historic machine.

The 1000cc, 2v V-twin, four-stroke JAP engine produces around 75bhp and carries the brand’s traditional three-speed “super-heavyweight” type gearbox. The Card brothers claim the all-aluminium construction of the engine – from the barrels to the cylinder heads – give the machine a weight advantage over the iron construction favoured by current owner of the Brough brand, entrepeneur Mark Upham. The rockers – a standout feature – are completely exposed, giving the vintage-styled machine a bare-bones appeal.

According to builder Dave Card, the engine is heavily based on the same unit that allowed British tuner Herbert Le Vack to hit 129mph outside Paris in August 1929; at that point a world record. As Dave puts it, “get them running right and they’ll go into orbit”.

Read more about the last of the Brit-built Broughs in this week’s MCN (August 24), on sale now.

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