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| Lot number | 224 |
|---|---|
| Hammer value | £650 |
| Description | Sprite Scrambler |
| Registration | N/A |
| Year | c.1967 |
| Engine size | 197 cc |
| Chassis No. | 637 |
| Engine No. | 355B |
Frank Hipkin began as a Clubman trials and scrambles rider and set about making his own designed frames to accommodate and update existing components.
Initially taking over a motorcycle business in Handsworth, Birmingham, he started out buying and selling competition machines. Meanwhile, out at the back of the premises he was also making his own special competition machines which he could be seen competing on at the weekends. Soon others were asking him for frame kits to update their Greeves , Cotton and DOT models.
From that humble beginning in 1964, he quickly became the UK's most prolific supplier of lightweight competition machines. His brilliant scheme was to supply complete bikes in kit form for the enthusiast to assemble at home. This enabled them to be purchased tax free and sold in kit form for just £149 in 1965, needing only a couple of hours to slot in the wheels and engine.
This Sprite is a c.1967 model with REH forks and British hub wheels. The engine fitted is a much earlier Villiers 8E 197cc unit of 1950s vintage. Presented as found and suitable for restoration, this machine is sold strictly as viewed with no documents.
