Help with 1942 Royal Enfield 350cc OHV WCO military sidecar

[Rich Payne]

Never seen a picture of a WM20 with a sidecar Chaps ? Here's one from an old Vanderveen book. The body looks to be the same as seen fitted to 500 Nortons but the chassis is clearly different.



This is Norton's variation on the theme. Not a very clear image of the chassis but you can see the mudguard support which acted as an outrigger.



Rich

[Keith Brooker]

Any one know what the British bikes are
bike sidecar.jpg email.jpg

bike sidecar 2.jpg email.jpg
Original Photos from my collection

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Keith Brooker

Any one know what the British bikes are
Original Photos from my collection

Hi Keith,

The lower photo is definitely military, a Norton Big 4 633cc with sidecar wheel drive by looks of it.

The upper photo, I think, is probably a Home Guard unit. The lorry looks to be civilian, outside of a factory or works. The assortment of motorcycles could be impressed or owned by the riders.

[Rich Payne]

As Richard says, nothing very WD about the machines in the top picture. I think that I can see a star on the fuel tank of the second bike from the right which usually suggests BSA to me. The bikes don't seem to have black-out lighting and the riders have battledress which seems a little conflicting in terms of dating.

The Norton Big 4 picture is an interesting one. There are quite a number there and they look to be fairly new and still finished in pre-war Service Green. The riders are wearing Service Dress. The first proper batch of these was delivered in May 1939 so the picture was presumably taken during the summer of 1939. As far as I have been able to tell, there were only two fully equipped Motorcycle Battalions with Big 4s at the outbreak of war, 4th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers who fought at Arras with 50th Div and the Territorials of 1st Queen Victorias Rifles who had the misfortune to be sent to Calais (without their motorcycles).

Would I be correct in thinking, from the colour of their stripes and buttons that they are from a Rifle Regiment ? If so, probably 1 QVR.

Rich

[Rob van Meel]

Hi Radek,

I am alive and well. Give my regards to Tomas and all. I have send him a couple of e-mails but they seem to have gone missing?

As stated here side cars as a standard fitting for WD motorcyles were very few and far between.
Forks are Matchless'Teledraulics (and AJS), top yoke looks WD, but the front brake mounting is post 1949 by the looks.

Rob

direct email rvanmeel at wanadoo.nl

[Radek]

To Rob: I am happy that you are o.k.
Do you know how much usuely cost the original forks?

here are any onothers pictures. (the Bren isn´t included)

[Rob van Meel]

Hi Radek,

The normal price for Royal Enfield girder forks (with the check springs for the CO) start form Euro 300 and upwards, depending on luck and condition.

In the two private collection pictures with sidecars: the bottom photograph is a Norton Big Four. The top one looks like it is privately entered into the home guard? There is really not much to go on: the large headlamp could be early war, but without the black-out looks more civilian pre-war. The exhaust pipe looks like an OHV, but not 100% certain though!

Rob

[rewdco]

Originally Posted by Radek

Do you know how much usuely cost the original forks?

Radek,

There was a complete WD/CO front fork (inclusive yokes, links, ...) for sale at the Kempton Park Autojumble a couple of weeks ago. The seller wanted 250 Pounds.

Henk Joore has just contacted me. He doesn't think this is a Swallow sidecar. He's given me this picture of a Swallow (see attached picture).

As you might know, I've done a lot of research on the WD/CO. During this research, I've discovered some interesting facts. All this has been bundeled in a 45 pages report, of which I can send you a copy if you send me your email address. Here's mine: jan(dot)vandevelde(at)vac-machines(dot)be

Regards,
Jan

[Higgins]

i send to you message,
think problems is in computers,
dont like,
like WWII machines,

We have now two Matchless g3L mod 1941,
this second is very good, orig condition,please see on
WWW.fotoalbum.eu/higgins

but we have problem-all is o.k.
after cca 15km dont want go(?)
on celebration in kyšice village
we must load Matchless on Bedford board,
and in Kyšice village it was with out problems.

For me was very interesting, you was with friend in Nadryby(near Pilsen),
few yers ego, motorcyclists for column, perfect(!),

and Nodrmandie- thank you Rob!

I am alive and well. Give my regards to Tomas and all. I have send him a couple of e-mails but they seem to have gone missing?

As stated here side cars as a standard fitting for WD motorcyles were very few and far between.
Forks are Matchless'Teledraulics (and AJS), top yoke looks WD, but the front brake mounting is post 1949 by the looks.

Rob

direct email rvanmeel at wanadoo.nl[/QUOTE]