New Imperial make or whereabouts

[foulis]

I know this is a big ask, especially considering the quality of the photos, but I'd love to try and find out what happened to my Grandad's old bike.  It's a New Imperial and that's as much as I know, except he fitted a side car.

I always wanted to ride and i know my grandad loved to ride.  My gran would always tell me the stories of how he infuriated her by stripping it down every winter and laying it out on the kitchen table to clean each part before storing them in the back bedroom ready for rebuilding.  He used to admit himself he would occasionally have a couple of bolts left over 

Four years ago, a year after he died, I got my first bike and understand his love for it.  I've just bought myself a classic bike, although not quite as classic as the imperial, and have suddenly felt the need to find out more about the bike he rode.  Unfortunately my gran and mum know nothing about bikes so I'm just left with these pictures and a registration to identify it.

If it's not possible to see what it is I would be grateful of any advice on how to proceed further

Thanks for your time

[RichP]

The registration number appears to be a Birmingham CBC number issued between April and June 1940 which is not what I would have expected at all.

New Imp were taken over by Triumph during 1939 and production discontinued. Presumably this was a bike which had been unsold for some time.

The registration number is no longer current but the number could have been lost.

I don't know the range well enough to assess the model but it looks like quite a tall engine and with the 'chair' attached, it's unlikely to be less than 500cc. Perhaps a Model 76 ?

[JFerg]

RichP is pretty close to the mark; the tank script and single port make it a 1939 model.

It is most probably a Model 76R; a 500cc rigid frame.

Very few about even in their day; try the New Imperial Owners Association website for more info.

cheers,
JFerg

[foulis]

Thank you both, i'm impressed

Do you know anyway I may be able to track what happened via the number plate.  I understand the records are probably lost as everything was on paper but would like to try?

He tried trading it in and the dealer went down the line of people offering each one a value on their vehicle, when he got to the Imperial he just looked at him funny, said no way and moved on.  Not certain what happened to it after that.

I'm going to try and find one in a museum so I can get a closer look at what they where like.

Once again thanks for all your help

[RichP]

I think that as JFerg says, with a 'niche' bike such as this, you need to talk to the New Imp owners and perhaps have a chat with the Vintage Motorcycle Club. They are ever so helpful.

The Kithead Trust are aware of most surviving 'paper' records. It looks as if Birmingham, as with most of the big authorities, did what they were told in the 1970s and dumped the lot.

http://www.kitheadtrust.org.uk/england_wales2_11.html

It is possible to check DVLA records on line but I'm not sure how accurate it is with a make that is not on the drop-down menu.

http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/application?origin=vnav_bar.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=Vehicle+Enquiry

There are other sites where it can be done without make. Every time that I 'Google', I find a different one.

DVLA effectively deleted numbers which were not on their computer and although it is nowadays possible to regain lapsed registrations with supporting documentation, for many years it wasn't so a bike taken off the road in the 1960s and restored in the 1980s would have been given an age-related number. It would be a chance in a million if a current owner recognised the number that his bike had lost.

It might be worthwhile when you are certain of the model to post it in the thread together with the registration number. Sometimes people 'Google' their own bikes. I have done !