AV001 ADVERTISING/VALUING

How can I value or find a new home for a Velocette that I have recently inherited? (I have no experience of  Velocettes or even motorcycles.) - A question asked by several visitors to the site

Although one way of selling your Velocette would be to a club member through the Club's journal, Fishtail, (or through the LE Owners Club journal, On The Level, for a twin-cylinder model)  it isn't usually ideal in such circumstances. This is firstly because you'd have to join to advertise it, and secondly members expect other members selling a Velocette to be reasonably knowledgeable about them. And thirdly, members often sell to other members at lower than market prices!

A better way is to buy one of the major monthly magazines - in the UK that would be Classic Motorcycle or Classic Bike (in any newsagent) or you may also see a Classic M/C Buyers Guide (or a similar title) that assesses current market values. Another extremely useful publication is the monthly "Old Bike Mart" in broadsheet format, but it is distributed on subscription (01507 52577 or www.oldbikemart.co.uk), rather than through newsagents. From the advertisements in these publications you can judge the approximate value of your Velocette, taking into account its model, year and condition. Then you need to decide whether to advertise it in the magazine (they have large readerships); or ring round the dealers who advertise therein for offers from them; or just give it to one of the auctioneers who also advertise and accept what they get for it at auction. It all depends how much effort you want to put in to dispose of it - you'll get most privately and least at auction. KTT's and Thruxton's are the most sought after and good ones can fetch five figures, particularly certain models of KTT if their history is known. But there are many "replicas" of both around....  A typical fully-restored post-war single (MAC, MSS, Viper or Venom) fetches £2,500 to £5,000 depending on its quality of finish and how "sporting" it is. One thing to watch out for is the value of a registration plate - if early, original and distinctive it alone could be worth as much as the bike - avoid selling to a number-plate dealer who may even scrap the bike after transferring the plate....preserve the Velocette! - TW 18/7/2000