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[Mark M]

Yep, deffo a 1953 to 1955 Meteor. The rider's leg and the bystander obscure the airbox and the top fork yoke which two features would narrow it down but the year of the film (1954) helps. Well spotted that man, I was looking in the low res version and didn't see any Enfields! I did notice that as is common in low budget films, all the location work (the bits actually shot outdoors in Swanage) didn't have any of the named cast and all the bits in the castle and the pub were studio sets. Did you spot several of the Triumphs have similar reg numbers? And the BSA outfit at the end had a POK number which is a Birmingham number, do I remember BSA publicity bikes using that suffix? REgards, Mark

[Scalyback]

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He is also at 23:50 and 53:16 (pic below)







Does this help identification?

[Mark M]

Great effort Scaly but sadly no! Major changes obvious for the Meteor were: it started in 1953 with an alloy top yoke and separate headlight, coil ignition by upright distributor and a special dynamo. The frame was an all tube design very much like the Bullets of the period. 1954 saw the introduction of the Casquette top yoke and a new frame with very distinctive cast lugs for the swinging arm pivots, a change to Woodhead rear suspension units from Enfield's own, a new oval air filter box replacing the earlier Bullet type "tea caddy" also a change to Magdyno ignition. There were other detail changes for the engine throughout the 3 year life of the Meteor but the 1954 cycle parts specification remained the same up to 1955. The winged toolbox transfer was introduced for late 1953 when it was used right across the entire RE model range with the appropriate item (500 Twin, Meteor, 350 Bullet etc,) on each bike, presumably because Enfield needed to make it clear how many models they had! One last point, the dual seat was an optional extra in 1953 but standard in 1954 so on balance, I'd go for a 1954 model. Phew! (I have a very early 1953 Meteor and they are very unusual as are all Meteors, I've probably only seen 8 or 9 in this country in 25 years.) Many seem to have gone for Export, quite a few to Australia. By the way, they are superb to ride, not very fast overall but smooth torquey power delivery with quite a high cruising speed and decent (but not brilliant) handling. Anyone wants to have a go on mine, come to the Home Counties Rally next year and you're welcome! REgards, Mark

[Norm]

You are right there Mark, there is a number of them out here, pulled the motor out of one last weekend to fix the gearbox leak, but once out, the box had been welded up in several places so it is getting a new Indian housing. End cover had been all botched up as well, bearing housing smashed, so that is getting an Indian one as well. Only thing I have to do is sleve the mainshaft so it will fit the metric bearing in the end cover, well at least that is all I have found so far.

[Scalyback]

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Last try...




Thnaks Les and Mark for spotting a Meteor, and Mark again, for the location!

[Mark M]

Scaly, that clinches it! Definitely a 1954 Meteor. Reason being, the 1953 Meteor with it's separate alloy top yoke didn't have the little trim plate across the lower yoke with the Royal Enfield logo on it. Behind the headlight you can just about see the shape of the Casquette and sidelights. And obviously it can't be a 55 because the film was made in 1954. I thought it might be a 54 from the previous pic as the Woodhead shocks for 1954 are much fatter than RE's own make as fitted up to 1953, but a keen rider might well have swapped them for the much better Woodheads. Incidentally if you do a Google image search for Royal Enfield Meteor the first one that comes up (reg HKG 265) is mine. Also, if you are ever down that way the biking on the Isle of Purbeck is perfect for our bikes and there's even a great steam railway from Swanage to Corfe with a brilliant cream tea available in the Castle tea rooms as a reward!
REgards, Mark

[Scalyback]

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Mark, I have had a reoccurring dream and it's all centred around a picture, I'll just go hunt for it, mainly blue and brown if I remember correctly.







That's it and it won't leave me alone. This is the 'Superbike', Redditch style, that I am looking for to (sadly) replace Thunderbolt when the time comes.



would this be the '54 or '55? I would love this or a later version of the bike, such as the Super Meteor which looks nice too, or a Meteor Minor, they all look good and would suit me well!



Yours almost looks like Sevice Brown in colour... Very, very nice looking bike, and that is a BIG smile you have on your face in that pic!

[Mark M]

The Brochure pic is probably 1954, I have a copy of the booklet somewhere and it has the whole model range for 1954 in full colour with those great futuristic drawings. That aircraft is of course, the Gloster Meteor, the world's first jet fighter (but not the first to fly I think.) The bike looked the same for 1954 and 55, just some small changes in engine spec. That pic of me was taken at the Watsonian Open Day a few years back, I was there with the Interceptor Owners Group, my own Mk1 Inter not quite finished at the time. I was grinning for Rowena of Real Classic magazine as she had just awarded me a prize for best unrestored old heap or something! You can read about it in the Tech Files on the RealClassic website. The colour is a Previous Owner's (PO for short,) attempt to replicate the Polychromatic Copper Beech that these bikes were originally painted. The bike left the Factory with a RE sidecar attached but that had disappeared by the time I got it. It was still fairly original when I got it but I've changed numerous small items back to standard and it is now very original indeed apart from the colour. I use it all year round as the finish doesn't matter! The offer is open to ride if you come to the REOC Home Counties Rally next year... REgards, Mark

[Adrian]

Apologies for going off-topic, but that download site also has Plan 9 From Outer Space, probably the most awful sci-fi film ever made. It now has its own cult following as later generations have come to appreciate just how bad it is! A bit light on Royal Enfields though. A.

[Les]

Yes but I am sure that Meteors have something to do with space