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Identify these bikes! / Re: L'il Villiers
« Last post by 33d6 on July 30, 2026, 03:16:59 AM »From what you have given me I think very early postwar. It all seems to point that way. As it happens my Excelsior equivalent is a 1940 model so more or less last gasp prewar and very handy for comparison.
Supposedly Villiers did their final 9D upgrade in 1939 but when in 1939? War was declared in September which is also around the time the whole motorcycle industry including Villiers started announcing next years ranges and anything new. I'm still ploughing through 'MotorCycling" at the State Library and haven't got to 1939 so haven't an exact date yet but will in due course. 1940 was going to be a big year for Villiers. Lots of changes and upgrades that came and went between the declaration of war in September and the halt of civilian production in April 1940. Hopefully the State Library will clarify a lot of questions.
My Excelsior has the AAA prefix only and the number, 18330 is in the expected prewar position. The frame number is 1073 with the correct prefix for a 1940 Model 0. It is on a flat boss on the left side of the steering head lug just above the down tube. The frame number is always on the special raised boss provided for it. Your auctioneer isn't trying too hard if he can't find it.
The first batch of postwar Excelsior to arrive in Victoria all have AAA****A engine numbering system in the vertical style. We know this from the AOMC engine number cards as they all contain the date of first registration which leads me to believe its the original fitment with the auction bike.
We also know from past investigation that a Waratah /Excelsior was not quite the same as the current model Excelsior . All Excelsior but not quite identical, usually with the odd part from previous years models. I think that is what has happened here, in an effort to start selling bikes again in the early days of peace Excelsior cleaned out their stores and made up a batch of Waratah from what they could find. As I mentioned before, that bike has a prewar frame and forks that were used on other model Excelsior. The frame number would reveal a lot. I think it's genuine and very early postwar.
Supposedly Villiers did their final 9D upgrade in 1939 but when in 1939? War was declared in September which is also around the time the whole motorcycle industry including Villiers started announcing next years ranges and anything new. I'm still ploughing through 'MotorCycling" at the State Library and haven't got to 1939 so haven't an exact date yet but will in due course. 1940 was going to be a big year for Villiers. Lots of changes and upgrades that came and went between the declaration of war in September and the halt of civilian production in April 1940. Hopefully the State Library will clarify a lot of questions.
My Excelsior has the AAA prefix only and the number, 18330 is in the expected prewar position. The frame number is 1073 with the correct prefix for a 1940 Model 0. It is on a flat boss on the left side of the steering head lug just above the down tube. The frame number is always on the special raised boss provided for it. Your auctioneer isn't trying too hard if he can't find it.
The first batch of postwar Excelsior to arrive in Victoria all have AAA****A engine numbering system in the vertical style. We know this from the AOMC engine number cards as they all contain the date of first registration which leads me to believe its the original fitment with the auction bike.
We also know from past investigation that a Waratah /Excelsior was not quite the same as the current model Excelsior . All Excelsior but not quite identical, usually with the odd part from previous years models. I think that is what has happened here, in an effort to start selling bikes again in the early days of peace Excelsior cleaned out their stores and made up a batch of Waratah from what they could find. As I mentioned before, that bike has a prewar frame and forks that were used on other model Excelsior. The frame number would reveal a lot. I think it's genuine and very early postwar.
