The Vintage Motorcycles
Specialists in antique, classic, veteran and vintage motorcycles.
Specialists in antique, classic, veteran and vintage motorcycles.
Brough Superior of Nottingham, England occupies a unique place in the history of British motorcycling. Founded by George Brough in 1919, the company became internationally known for producing high-performance motorcycles that combined engineering refinement, speed, and luxury craftsmanship. During the interwar years Brough Superior motorcycles developed a reputation for exclusivity that later earned the marque the enduring nickname "the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles."
Unlike many mass-production motorcycle manufacturers of the period, Brough Superior assembled motorcycles to individual customer specification. The company used engines supplied by firms such as JAP, Matchless, and Austin while developing distinctive chassis and performance standards that separated its motorcycles from contemporary British machines produced by companies including AJS, BSA, and Norton.
Brough Superior motorcycles became closely associated with speed record attempts, endurance riding, and sporting road use. The marque is also historically linked with T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, whose ownership of several Brough Superior motorcycles contributed significantly to the brand's cultural legacy.
This reference guide documents the principal Brough Superior motorcycle models produced between 1919 and 1940, including production years, engine configurations, historical context, and the technical evolution of one of Britain's most celebrated motorcycle manufacturers.
| Model | Production Years | Engine Type | Capacity | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark I | 1919-1922 | V-Twin JAP | 986cc | Sport Touring |
| SS80 | 1922-1940 | V-Twin JAP / Matchless | 981cc | Sport |
| SS100 | 1924-1940 | High-performance V-Twin | 998cc | Super Sport |
| Pendine | 1927-1936 | V-Twin JAP | 998cc | Sport Racing |
| Alpine Grand Sports | 1930s | V-Twin | 680 / 990cc | Touring |
| 11.50 | 1933-1940 | JAP V-Twin | 1096cc | Touring |
| Austin Four | 1932-1934 | Inline four-cylinder | 800cc | Luxury Touring |
Production Years: 1919-1922
Engine Type: JAP V-Twin
Displacement: 986cc
Transmission: 3-speed
Drive: chain drive
The Mark I was the first motorcycle produced under the Brough Superior name following George Brough's departure from the earlier Brough motorcycle business established by his father, William Brough. These early machines established the company's philosophy of combining high-speed performance with superior finish and hand-built assembly standards.
Many components used on the Mark I reflected the broader engineering practices of the British motorcycle industry during the immediate post-First World War years, a period also explored in our overview of vintage motorcycle manufacturers by country.
Production Years: 1922-1940
Engine Type: JAP or Matchless V-Twin
Displacement: 981cc
Top Speed: guaranteed 80 mph
Category: sporting road motorcycle
The SS80 became one of the foundational models of the Brough Superior range. Each motorcycle was tested before delivery to confirm its advertised performance capability, an unusual practice during the 1920s motorcycle industry.
The SS80 represented the beginning of Brough Superior's systematic model naming convention, with "SS" standing for "Super Sports." The machine occupied a position between touring motorcycles and pure racing machines, similar to the sporting roadsters later developed by Velocette and Vincent.
Production Years: 1924-1940
Engine Type: high-performance V-Twin
Displacement: 998cc
Top Speed: guaranteed 100 mph
Fuel System: Amal carburetors
The SS100 became the most famous motorcycle ever produced by Brough Superior. Designed as an ultra high-performance sporting motorcycle, each SS100 was road tested and certified capable of reaching 100 miles per hour before leaving the Nottingham factory.
The model achieved international recognition through speed trials, endurance events, and ownership by prominent riders including T. E. Lawrence. Within the wider history of British vintage motorcycle brands, the SS100 remains one of the defining motorcycles of the interwar period.
Production Years: 1927-1936
Engine Type: JAP V-Twin
Displacement: 998cc
Category: high-performance sporting motorcycle
The Pendine model was named after Pendine Sands in Wales, the location of important land speed record attempts during the 1920s. The motorcycle emphasized speed and lightweight sporting performance while retaining the refinement associated with the Brough Superior marque.
Pendine Sands also played a significant role in the development of record-breaking motorcycles and automobiles during the interwar era, connecting Brough Superior to the broader history of early motorsport engineering.
Production Years: early to mid-1930s
Engine Type: V-Twin
Displacement: 680cc and 990cc variants
Category: long-distance touring
The Alpine Grand Sports models were designed for fast continental touring and reliability over mountainous terrain. Their development reflected the growing popularity of international motorcycle travel during the 1930s.
Touring motorcycles of this era increasingly featured improved suspension systems, stronger braking performance, and more comfortable riding ergonomics compared with earlier rigid-frame motorcycles.
Production Years: 1933-1940
Engine Type: JAP V-Twin
Displacement: 1096cc
Category: touring and sporting road use
The 11.50 represented one of the largest displacement motorcycles offered by Brough Superior during the late 1930s. These machines delivered substantial torque and high-speed cruising capability suited to long-distance road travel.
Large-capacity V-Twin motorcycles remained an important part of premium motorcycle manufacturing before the Second World War, particularly among British and American manufacturers focused on touring performance.
Production Years: 1932-1934
Engine Type: inline four-cylinder automobile-derived engine
Displacement: 800cc
Cooling: water-cooled
The Austin Four was one of the most technically unusual motorcycles produced by Brough Superior. Instead of using a conventional motorcycle engine, the machine employed a modified Austin automobile engine adapted for motorcycle use.
This approach reflected a broader period of experimentation among interwar motorcycle manufacturers seeking improved smoothness and long-distance comfort. The Austin Four remains one of the rarest and most collectible Brough Superior motorcycles today.
Although Brough Superior did not manufacture all of its own engines internally, the company became known for selecting high-quality powerplants and integrating them into carefully engineered chassis designs.
This supplier-based engineering model was relatively common within the British motorcycle industry before the Second World War. Comparable practices could also be seen among specialist manufacturers documented in our guides to Sunbeam motorcycles and Matchless motorcycle models.
Production of original Brough Superior motorcycles ended in 1940 as wartime conditions transformed British industry. Despite relatively low production numbers, the marque developed a lasting international reputation for engineering quality, exclusivity, and high-speed performance.
Today Brough Superior motorcycles are among the most historically significant collector motorcycles in the world. Models such as the SS100 and Pendine regularly appear in museum collections, concours exhibitions, and historic motorcycle auctions focused on rare pre-war machines.
Brough Superior remains one of the most influential names in the history of classic British motorcycles. The marque is also connected to broader developments in pre-war motorcycles, vintage motorcycle racing history, and the evolution of high-performance sporting motorcycles during the first half of the twentieth century.
Vincent, Ariel, BSA, Royal Enfield, Coventry Eagle, Douglas, Excelsior, Matchless, New Map, Norton, Rudge, Sunbeam, and Triumph, all of which played a major role in British motorcycle racing and engineering development.
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