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[Mark M]

David, that looks like a fascinating project, as someone who's interested in Enfield's experiments into new designs I've always wanted to see that. Do you have any more pictures? The 1967 plate probably does indicate it was sold out of the Factory when it closed, I know a guy who worked there at the time and he told me that staff were given first go round the priced up bikes and parts before the public were let in to the sale and he bought his Works Replica Trials very cheap when the Foreman realised he was only a poor apprentice! I mention the Works Rep as these were last made in 1960 and his was obviously unsold.
REgards, Mark

[Scalyback]

Oh neat! Historical importance.



any chance of a few more pics, I'm spellbound already.



Did the farmer have any knowledge of what happened to the front fairing?



Thanks for posting, Nice to know that another unusual bit of history is still around.

[David S.]

I do have more pics but they are on paper so will have to scan them. The front fairing was gone before the farmer bought the bike. It was originally sold by a bike shop in Scunthorpe. I think I am the 3rd owner (it has only about 4k on the clock). In Anne Bradford's book it says Reg Thomas used it for his own transport for a number of years, probably with trade plates. They made 2 rear enclosures - one on the 500 and another on a Crusader (there was an article in Classic Bike in the early 80s' and I think it said it was sold to a Japanese business man. I have found a suitable airflow fairing and am going to have a go at making some molds to lay up the indicator pods with fiberglass. Two interesting things I have found - the compression ratio is about 4:1 (with all in pistons rings and valve s in good condition)- it will not go well on high octane fuel but great on the lower stuff. The is also a 1mm hole drilled in the bottom of the carburetor flange on the engine side, this will leak air into the intake - don't know why it's there but am fairly sure it was done at the factory.
Will attempt to post more pics later in the week. Cheers, Dave

[Mark M]

David, the bleed hole in the bottom of the carb 2 into 1 manifold is normal, they all have it. It seems to be either to act as a drain if the carb floods or as an induction balancing device, I've seen both explanations!
REgards, Mark

[David S.]

As I said - there are a couple of pictures of the 500 - this shortly after I got the bike in 1979, another to follow shortly

[David S.]

The quality is very poor - taken with a 110 camera, left in the bottom drawer for 30 years!!! I have all the missing bits, headlamp, side panels that attach with Dzuz fasteners etc. and did have it painted polychromatic red in about 1980, but it has been standing for many years work and children getting in the way!!

[Scalyback]

Thanks for the photos.

I do hope to get the project may proceed someday soon, and I am sure that many of us will follow it with interest.

[simon]

I think there is a hit of the Messerschmitt Kabinenroller look to the Dreamliner. Clearly the frog look was a fifties thing.