In an aside during a conversation today, I was asked what sort of money a non restored (but running and in good nick) Velocette Venom and (believe it or not) a Viper in similar condition would bring. The asker didn't know the year of either bike and I didn't know the answer to the question, but I said I'd ask on here, so I have. -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
**** me, last time I saw one of either of them was on the last IronHorse run I did about 20 years ago and they were old then. No idea of value though.
Beav tossed off: Crossposted to the blokes wiv beards an' jumpers -- Dan L 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6) X-FOT#000 DIAABTCOD #26 BOMB#18 (slow) OMF#11
Well, it's a shame you don't have a matched pair of either Venoms or Vipers as that adds significantly to the value. To give you an indication, a matched pair of Venoms in this sort of condition might be worth twenty to thirty million in the right auction on the right day, the Vipers perhaps even more. However, you're unfortunately not in that position as your pair don't match, and that will inevitably affect their value. I'd suggest that £8 is all that you'd get, even with the currently buoyant American market . I'll give you £10, I'm cutting my own throat, and I'll bring the van round this afternoon, OK?
Probably between £2500 and £3000 each, depending on condition. Possibly a bit more if they really are in good nick. The Venom should get a bit more than the Viper if all else is equal. Very good ones can fetch £4000 or more.
Your best bet is the owners club at http://www.velocetteowners.com/ If I had the space or time I would probably offer you about 500 each, spend about 1500 on a decent restoration, and still make a loss trying to sell them <B-(. Old Britbike fans are like that .....
You wouldn't have any trouble selling them but as they are I'd say about £1500 to £2000 for the Viper and £3000 to £3500 for the Venom. Martin
I told him they'd bring a good amount and that was before he told me the bloke who owns these bikes also has a Brough Superior. Now I don't want to call him a liar, so I'm going to go and see the bloke (if he exists at all and I can get his address) just to see what he's got, or indeed IF he's got (anything worth anything) -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
If I said they weren't powered by gas turbines, would that affect the price? -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19
I was expecting them to at lest be powered by the experimental Rover gas turbines of the 50's/60's. Ok, I'll take the Brough to cover the cost of taking the Velos for scrap, OK? Ask him if he's got any KTT or KTS bikes in need of a new home, would you? I'd consider a KSS, but would prefer one of the other ones/
Apparently my brother had a KTT at one time, probably in the early fifties; he was older than me by a few years, and so I never got to see it as he had to hide it from our parents, garaging it at a friend's house. He later told me that it was fitted with bicycle lights, and the 'silencer' was a saucepan lid with some holes drilled through it wired over the end of the megaphone. Those were the days.....
That sounds like a good deal for someone, although I suspect it wouldn't be me. I can only ask -- Beav VN 750 Zed 1000 OMF# 19