18 I AUGUST 2019 More old bikes online: Real-Classic.co.ukBROUGHLY
SPEAKING
Frankrefers tothe Brough ‘StraightFour.’
Strictly speaking,thiswasaprototype with
George Brough’s ownair-cooledfour-cylinder
engine,which like all his other engines never
wentintoproduction.Ibelievethatabout
tenoftheAustin-engined horrors weresold
tothe public,and someyears agoIhad
the doubtful privilege ofriding one. It was
hitchedtoalarge double-adult sidecar which
madefora
really gloomy
outfit. (Oneor
twointrepid
individuals
triedtoride
them solo,
twinrear
wheels and
all.)With a
lot ofweight
therewas not much‘go’ andverylittle‘stop,’
but sincethe slightlyupgraded engine
produced only 24bhp,thiswas not surprising.
InfacttheSevenrespondsremarkably
well totuning andMurrayJamiesonraceda
supercharged one which turned out 70bhp.
Perhaps GB should havegone down thatroad
as he did with his blown HHudson-engined
car.Anyway, the only enjooyablefeatureof
the bikewasthereverse ggearintheAustin
gearbox, which enabled mmetodosomethree
pointturns andgreatly immpressthegroupof
spectators who had gatheeredtowatchthefun.
Youmayhavenoticed tthatatarecent
auctionabasketcaseconsistingofthe
far fromcompleteremainnsof
anAustin-engined Brouggh
fetchedover £330,000. WWhat
is therelefttosay?
BobTorrens,memberOneofBroug h’sAustin-enginedcontraptionswas
still going strong in 1958 when itwasfeatured
in MotorCyclin g. Although the 1932catalo gue
boasted that ‘60mph withtwopassengers and
luggage canbemaint ained indefinitely and in
perfectcomfort’,the owner had neverbeen much
over 50mphbecause of the appallinggvibration...
Rowena