The Vintage Motorcycles
Specialists in antique, classic, veteran and vintage motorcycles.
Specialists in antique, classic, veteran and vintage motorcycles.
The 1935 Brough Superior Model 11-50 represents a refined expression of British sporting motorcycle design during the final years of the interwar period. Positioned within the distinguished lineage of Brough Superior vintage motorcycles, the 11-50 embodied the marque's continuing pursuit of mechanical sophistication, balanced road performance, and artisanal construction at a time when motorcycle engineering was rapidly advancing across Europe.
Powered by a JAP-built 1096cc side-valve V-twin engine, the Model 11-50 was engineered to deliver smooth, flexible power suitable for both long-distance touring and high-speed road use. The large-capacity V-twin configuration offered substantial low-end torque and mechanical reliability, characteristics that increasingly defined premium British motorcycles of the 1930s as riders demanded machines capable of covering greater distances with comfort and confidence.
Visually, the 11-50 reflects the restrained elegance that became synonymous with pre-war Brough Superior production. Its elongated fuel tank, balanced wheel proportions, and exposed mechanical architecture create a composition where engineering integrity remains central to the motorcycle's aesthetic identity. Rather than concealing its construction, the machine openly presents its structural and mechanical elements, reinforcing the handcrafted character that distinguished the marque from many contemporary manufacturers.
The Model 11-50 also emerged during an important transitional moment in British motorcycle development, when manufacturers increasingly balanced performance ambitions with rider comfort, durability, and touring practicality. In this environment, large-capacity motorcycles evolved beyond purely sporting machines, becoming sophisticated long-distance vehicles capable of sustained travel across expanding road networks throughout Britain and continental Europe.
This particular example of the 1935 Model 11-50 has been restored with careful attention to period-correct presentation and mechanical authenticity. Original design details, finishes, and cycle components have been preserved in a manner consistent with factory specifications, allowing the motorcycle to retain both its historical character and its understated visual coherence.
Rarely encountered in such complete condition, the Brough Superior Model 11-50 stands today as a significant representation of British pre-war engineering - a motorcycle that combines mechanical presence, touring refinement, and the enduring craftsmanship that defined one of the most respected marques of the twentieth century.
By the mid-1930s, the British motorcycle industry had entered a period of increasing technical maturity, as manufacturers refined existing engineering principles while responding to growing demand for faster, more dependable long-distance motorcycles. Within this evolving landscape, Brough Superior maintained its reputation for producing machines of exceptional quality, assembled to standards that positioned the marque closer to bespoke engineering than conventional mass production.
Founded by George Brough in Nottingham, the company became internationally recognized for its meticulous construction methods and use of carefully selected proprietary components. Engines supplied by JAP, precision-built frames, and individually tested motorcycles contributed to a level of mechanical refinement rarely matched during the period. The Model 11-50 emerged from this philosophy as a powerful touring motorcycle that prioritized smooth performance, durability, and composure at sustained road speeds.
The broader cultural environment of the 1930s also played an important role in shaping motorcycles such as the 11-50. Improvements in road infrastructure and increasing enthusiasm for long-distance travel encouraged manufacturers to develop larger, more capable machines suited to extended journeys. In this context, motorcycles increasingly became symbols of personal freedom and engineering aspiration rather than purely utilitarian forms of transportation.
While later Brough Superior SS models often became associated with outright speed and sporting mythology, motorcycles like the Model 11-50 reveal another important dimension of the marque's identity - the pursuit of refined grand touring performance through craftsmanship, stability, and mechanical confidence. These machines reflected a distinctly British interpretation of luxury motorcycling, where understated engineering excellence carried greater significance than visual excess.
As post-war industrial changes transformed the motorcycle industry, many large pre-war touring motorcycles were dismantled, modified, or lost altogether. Surviving examples of the Model 11-50 therefore provide valuable insight into the engineering priorities and manufacturing culture of the interwar years, preserving details that illustrate how premium motorcycles were designed, constructed, and experienced during one of the most influential periods in motorcycling history.
Today, the 1935 Brough Superior Model 11-50 is regarded not merely as a collectible motorcycle, but as an enduring artifact of British engineering heritage - a machine that captures the intersection of craftsmanship, technological ambition, and the evolving culture of long-distance motorcycling before the Second World War.
The Vintage Motorcycles presents a curated selection of historically significant British vintage motorcycles, representing one of the most influential engineering traditions in European motorcycling history. From early single-cylinder machines developed during the formative years of industrial mobility to highly refined pre-war and post-war performance motorcycles, British manufacturers played a defining role in shaping both road and racing motorcycle development.
This collection includes machines from landmark marques such as AJS, Triumph, Vincent, Sunbeam, Matchless, BSA, Norton, Douglas, Royal Enfield, and other historically important British motorcycle manufacturers, each contributing to advancements in engine architecture, chassis design, and competitive performance engineering. These motorcycles are best understood within the broader framework of pre-war motorcycle engineering (1900-1939), as well as the subsequent evolution seen in post-war motorcycle development, where British engineering became closely associated with racing success and mechanical refinement.
Each motorcycle within our collection is sourced based on historical provenance, structural originality, and mechanical integrity, ensuring alignment with museum-grade preservation standards. For collectors seeking acquisition opportunities, available machines can be explored through our global vintage motorcycle inventory, supported by a fully insured international shipping service.
British motorcycle engineering during the interwar era became closely associated with precision craftsmanship, high-performance touring capability, and the pursuit of mechanical refinement. Within this landscape, Brough Superior motorcycles emerged as some of the most technically ambitious and meticulously constructed machines of their generation, establishing a reputation that extended far beyond conventional transportation.
Founded in Nottingham by George Brough, the marque distinguished itself through unusually rigorous production standards and the integration of premium proprietary components, particularly JAP V-twin engines. Unlike many contemporaries that emphasized mass production, Brough Superior approached motorcycle construction with a philosophy closer to bespoke engineering, where performance, reliability, and aesthetic proportion were treated as inseparable elements of the machine itself.
This engineering approach evolved alongside broader developments within British motorcycle history, where advances in metallurgy, frame geometry, lubrication systems, and long-distance reliability increasingly shaped the direction of motorcycle design during the 1920s and 1930s. Machines such as the Model 680 reflected these priorities through their balance of smooth power delivery, structural stability, and refined touring performance.
Beyond their mechanical specifications, Brough Superior motorcycles became enduring symbols of Britain's wider industrial and engineering identity during the early twentieth century. Their influence continues to occupy an important place within the historical study of luxury motorcycles, demonstrating how craftsmanship, technical innovation, and cultural aspiration converged to define one of the most respected names in pre-war motorcycling.
Key Highlights
Collector Assurance
All enquiries handled with discretion. We typically respond within 6 hours.