Lot number | 20 |
---|---|
Hammer value | £1,050 |
Description | Francis-Barnett Light Cruiser 79 |
Registration | LVG 479 |
Year | c.1958 |
Colour | Green |
Engine size | 171 cc |
Chassis No. | ZB10020 |
Engine No. | 17T 1396 |
Established in 1919, the Coventry firm of Francis-Barnett remained independent until 1947 when it was taken over by Associated Motor Cycles.
At first the firm was still left pretty much to itself in terms of the machines it designed and the Lower Ford Street factory concentrated on Villiers-powered lightweight commuters, scramblers and trials bikes. This was all to change later in the 1950s when commonality between other machines in the AMC stable was required on grounds of cost-effectiveness and soon all the different marques were sharing more and more components .
AMC were concerned about their reliance on Villiers for the supply of engines and looked to produce their own two-stroke engine, employing Italian designer Signor Piatti to come up with something new. He designed a range of engines of 175cc, 200cc and 250cc capacities, then took his fat fee and left. Typical of Italian design flair, these units looked neat and purposeful but were to prove troublesome from the off.
While some of the problems were due to the inability of the AMC workforce to quickly master the build process, there were also some teething problems with the unit itself which had been rushed into production before it had been properly tested. Eventually the problems became so bad that AMC had to go cap in hand to Villiers to assemble the AMC unit on its behalf.
Little is known of this smart 171cc Model 79 Light Cruiser (the registration number LVG 479 appears not to be on the DVLA computer) but its Z prefix frame number means it was produced between September 1957 and August 1958 while its engine number marks it out as having the later improved engine with modified oiling to the main bearings and modified piston design.
This is a pretty little bike and, being a later model, is not deserving of the criticisms levelled at the earlier models. Although there are no documents with this machine, a dating letter from the Francis-Barnett Owners’ Club and the relevant DVLA forms should see it re-issued with a V5C with little difficulty.