Dating RS Framed Velocettes

Often I receive e mails on how to date  Velos. The only positive way you can do this is by reference to the original factory records, which are not in the public domain.  Based on an extract of the factory records compiled by Ivan Rhodes, you can obtain an estimate of the date of your Velo by completing the fields below. However there are a few things you need to be aware of;

• Velocette built engines and frames separately, kept them in the stores and eventually built them into a machine. Therefore there is no direct or logical relationship between engine and frame numbers. It is not unusual for an  engine to have a much later frame than the next engine in the numeric sequence or vice versa. This causes problems particularly towards the end of the year where the last frame number I can find does not necessarily belonging to the last engine number of that year.
• MAC, MSS, Vipers, Venoms and Thruxtons all shared the RS frame. In compiling this information I took the latest frame number I could find for the year concerned.
• There are two dates in the records, the invoice date that approximates to when the bike left the factory and the guarantee date that approximates to when the bike was sold and registered. My Venom left the factory in September 1960 but remained unsold till September 1961. The information provided is based on invoice date.
• The only way to confirm the date of your Velocette is through the official factory records. The information from which this program calculates the date of your Velocette was based on an extract from the factory records created by Ivan Rhodes. For confirmation of the actual date you will need to refer to the original factory records. Validation can be obtained for a fee from Grove Classic Motorcycles on +44 (0) 1582 873066, e mail velocetteparts.co.uk