Back in 1955, a special motorcycle named SOP 367 was built. The reason it was so special is that it was the very first Velocette Viper ever made to ride on the road.
A Special Motorbike
In April 1956, a magazine called Motor Cycling tested this brand-new bike. They were very impressed! The Viper could go really fast, up to 92 miles per hour, and still save fuel, getting about 85 to 90 miles per gallon. That’s like going on a long trip without needing to stop for petrol too often!
A Famous Motorbike
SOP 367 was used by the Velocette company to show off their new model. They let journalists ride it, take pictures, and write stories about it. The bike’s special number, SOP 367, was even visible in the magazine photos.
Hidden Surprises
When experts looked inside SOP 367’s engine, they found some cool parts that made it even faster than usual. This showed that the company had made this bike extra special for the magazine tests.
Famous Owners
After its time with journalists, SOP 367 had several owners, including a famous motorcycle writer named Frank Melling. In the 1980s, it was taken off the road, but in 2010, someone bought it and carefully restored it to look just like it did when it was first made (although they did change the colour).
A Motorbike With A Story
Along with the bike, there’s a big collection of papers and photos that tell its story. These include the original logbook, old magazine articles, letters from experts, and even receipts from its restoration.
This very special bike is now parked up on display at Bridge Classic Cars. Maybe one day it will be out on the road again.