Cotton 250 Trials

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While the products of Cotton’s Gloucester works took Stanley Woods to TT success in the pre-WW2 era, the factory had something of a chequered history and was subject to reformation under different management teams at various stages.

Post-war it lay dormant until taken over by Monty Denly and Pat Onions when it became titled E Cotton (Motorcycles) of Gloucester, named after Bill Cotton's wife, Elizabeth – Bill being the original founder and supposedly long retired but finding it impossible to keep away and frequently to be found pottering about the factory keeping everything clean and tidy, all unpaid!

While soon expanding to a 16 model range of both road bikes and competition mounts, production figures were still low with many machines built to order. Ever aware of the need to publicise the product, the services of John Draper, Les Wyer and Malcolm Smith were engaged for the 1961 Scottish Six Days Trial, the trio coming close to winning the team prize, only to be scuppered by Wyer's retirement.

Other famous names were to be seen aboard Cotton's machines, including Arthur Lampkin and Malcolm Davis, but it was the performance of the virtually unknown Dennis ‘Jonah’ Jones in the 1965 Scottish Six Days that really brought Cotton to the fore, leading the event for the early stages before finally losing out on the last couple of days, but still with a good enough performance to secure a place on the leader board and to be awarded ‘Best Newcomer’.

Dating from 1967, BBD 67E is one of the later machines that was to be spawned by the newly found success of the Cotton. Still powered by its 161F specification Villiers 246cc 37A engine it features all the standard Cotton running gear including British Hub Moto-alloy hubs, chrome Dunlop rims, MP telescopic forks etc. The major change from original specification is a replacement steel tank (possibly from a Cotton Minarelli schoolboy scrambler?), and although an original spec Cotton fibreglass tank is included in the sale, the vendor has not used this as there can be a reaction between the fibreglass and modern ethanol fuel.

Running and riding as it should, it was being ridden around on the morning of our visit and was ticking over nicely as we took these photos. It comes with a V5C, an older V5 , the last expired MOT from 2011 and the original type of petrol tank. There is an active Cotton Motorcycle Club and this bike and its lucky new owner will get a warm welcome at the annual get together and show at the Gloucester Folk Museum in August.