Greeves (Motorcycles) Badge - Brief History
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Greeves Motorcycles was founded by Bert Greeves MBE in 1951, as a spin off of Invacar.
The Invacar came about from an idea of bert Greeves of fitting the lawnmower engine to his disabled cousin' Derry Preston-Cobbs wheelchair. After numerous experiments the motorised wheelchair went on to become the Invacar, bodied with a fibre glass body the blue trike became a regular site on Britains roads after Invacar won a major contract to provide motorised three-wheeled invalid carriage vehicles to the UK Government Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance in 1952 from a small factory in Church Road, Thundersley not far from Southend on Sea in Essex.
With the financial backing of Invacar, Bert Greeves decided to diversify into motorcycle manufacture. A keen trials rider in his spare time he and cousin Derry Preston-Cobb founded Greeves motorcycles in 1952. Derry's own Invacar was used as a promotional vehicle and had been fitted with a more powerful engine
Working together they developed a prototype using a two-stroke 197 cubic centimetres (12.0 cu in) single-cylinder engine sourced from Villiers Engineering - and a Greeves badge on the fuel tank. The motorcycles were really a sideline for the main business of producing the three-wheeled invalid cars, so development of the prototypes had to be fitted in when the production schedule allowed. Bert had been an enthusiastic motorcyclist in his youth and always had an ambition to become a motorcycle manufacturer. The first Greeves motorcycle was developed in mid-1951, using rubber-in-torsion springing at both front and rear. This unconventional rubber springing came straight from the patented system used for the invalid car. Rear wheel suspension was by a pivoted fork with rods connecting to torsion rubber mounted units just below the seat.Friction dampers were also fitted which could be manually adjusted
Motorcycle production began in the autumn of 1953 and the new models featured a unique frame with the steering head and a massive front down member combined in a large 'I-section' cast alloy beam, cast in a new light-alloy foundry that had been added to the Greeves factory.
Derry Preston-Cobb was made Sales Manager for the motorcycle business and they started with three models, a scrambler, a three speed road bike and a four-speed version. At the 1954 Earls Court Show, they also launched the 'Fleetwing', a two-cylinder two-stroke with a 242 cc British Anzani engine switching to a more powerful Villiers engine after supplies of the British Anzani unit dried up in 1957.By 1962 there were eleven models in the Greeves range. of road and off road bikes Greeves also built a successful export business and at one time most of the motorcycles produced were going to the United States. Greeves became so successful in the US that they had a significant influence on the growth of the off-road biking sport and with the invention of the trail bike with their road legal off-roader, the Ranger.
In motorsport Greeves excelled in trials and motorcycle scrambles picking up prestigious National and International Championships establishing Greeves' reputation as true off-road competition motorcycles Greeves also made a successful entry into road racing with the 250 cc Silverstone model these were production Clubman's model with a reputation for reliability and were chosen to be the standard motorcycles for the Mortimer-Beart Road Racing School. A win in the 1964 Manx Grand Prix, for Rhodesian Gordon Keith who set a lap record in class, This led to a lot of interest in the Greeves road bikes, including from a number of British Police forces for a version of the bigger twin equipped with a radio.but by 1968 Villiers had pulled out of engine production and Greeves decided to leave the trail-motorcycle market to concentrate on the development of a motocross model
Like most British manufacturers Greeves was affected by the arrival pf competitive Japanese bikes, in all sectors. Suzuki dominating the European Championships from 1970 to 1973, sales began to slow. Greeves did win an important contract to supply motorcycles for the Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display Team and developed the 'Greeves Griffons.
But throughout the greeves story the flow of capital from Invacar had been plvotal and in when the Invacar was declared no longer road legal and the Ministry of Pensions decided to replace it with a four-wheeled car, Bert Greeves decided it was time to retire, and was soon followed by his cousin Derry Preston-Cobb. The company floundered in 1976 and after a fire at the factory were unable to resume production, resulting in receivership,
In 2009 trials rider Richard Deal started producing replica parts, and then a replica motorcycle called the Anglian. After gaining control of the trademarks of the Greeves name in the UK, USA and Europe, a new Greeves company was founded in Chelmsford which restarted production of mainly trials models. ..
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Shot at Brooklands Museum, H+H Auction 06:06:2015 Ref 106-575
Tags: Greeves British Motorcycle Motobike Scrambler Motocross Trials Invacar Badge Badges Automobilia Brooklands
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Greeves Motorcycles
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Greeves Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by Bert Greeves which produced a range of road machines, and later competition mounts for observed trials, scrambles and road racing. The original company produced motorcycles from 1952, funded by a contract with the Ministry of Pensions for their Invacar, a three-wheeler for disabled drivers. produced in a small factory in Church Road, Thundersley not far from Southend on Sea in Essex
Encouraged by the success of the Invacar, Greeves a keen motorcycle enthusiast decided with his cousin Derry Preston-Cobb to branch out into motorcycle production. Working together they developed a prototype using a two-stroke 197 cubic centimetres (12.0 cu in) single-cylinder engine sourced from Villiers Engineering - and a Greeves badge on the fuel tank. he first Greeves motorcycle was developed in mid-1951, using rubber-in-torsion springing at both front and rear. This unconventional rubber springing came straight from the patented system used for the invalid car. Motorcycle production began in the autumn of 1953 and the new models featured a unique very strong frame, made from LM6 silicon-aluminium alloy, it was claimed to be stronger than tubular steel and proved capable of standing up to the rough treatment of international off-road trials competition. With victories in National and International scrambling and trialing. Greeves also made a successful entry into road racing with the 250 cc Silverstone model. a noteable victory coming in the 1964 Manx Grand Prix with Rhodesian Gordon Keith who also took the Greeves racer to the fastest lap of the race which proved to be the fastest ever by a British 250 cc motorcycle winning the race ahead of four Aermacchis.
As the Japanese entered the market place, with Suzuki dominating the European Championships from 1970 to 1973, sales began to slow.. Greeves received an important order to supply motorcycles for the Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display Team and developed the 'Greeves Griffons', but a change in the law meant that the Invacar, which had been the mainstay of the company was no longer legal for road use.Bert Greeves decided that it was time to retire from the business and was soon followed by his cousin Derry Preston-Cobb
Diolch am 77,272,061 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mae pob un yn cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr.
Thanks for 77,272,061 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated.
Shot 15.09.2019 at Hanbury Car Show, Droitwich, Worcestershire 143-932
Tags: Greeves Bitish 1960s 1961 GreevesHawkstone Badge Automobilia Emblem Badges Motorcycle Motorbike Hanbury
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Greeves Motorcycles
AUTOMOTIVE BADGES SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157631048301272...
GREEVES ALBUM
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/albums/72157671257568117
Greeves Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by Bert Greeves which produced a range of road machines, and later competition mounts for observed trials, scrambles and road racing. The original company produced motorcycles from 1952, funded by a contract with the Ministry of Pensions for their Invacar, a three-wheeler for disabled drivers. produced in a small factory in Church Road, Thundersley not far from Southend on Sea in Essex
Encouraged by the success of the Invacar, Greeves a keen motorcycle enthusiast decided with his cousin Derry Preston-Cobb to branch out into motorcycle production. Working together they developed a prototype using a two-stroke 197 cubic centimetres (12.0 cu in) single-cylinder engine sourced from Villiers Engineering - and a Greeves badge on the fuel tank. he first Greeves motorcycle was developed in mid-1951, using rubber-in-torsion springing at both front and rear. This unconventional rubber springing came straight from the patented system used for the invalid car. Motorcycle production began in the autumn of 1953 and the new models featured a unique very strong frame, made from LM6 silicon-aluminium alloy, it was claimed to be stronger than tubular steel and proved capable of standing up to the rough treatment of international off-road trials competition. With victories in National and International scrambling and trialing. Greeves also made a successful entry into road racing with the 250 cc Silverstone model. a noteable victory coming in the 1964 Manx Grand Prix with Rhodesian Gordon Keith who also took the Greeves racer to the fastest lap of the race which proved to be the fastest ever by a British 250 cc motorcycle winning the race ahead of four Aermacchis.
As the Japanese entered the market place, with Suzuki dominating the European Championships from 1970 to 1973, sales began to slow.. Greeves received an important order to supply motorcycles for the Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display Team and developed the 'Greeves Griffons', but a change in the law meant that the Invacar, which had been the mainstay of the company was no longer legal for road use.Bert Greeves decided that it was time to retire from the business and was soon followed by his cousin Derry Preston-Cobb
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Shot 01.05.2016 Shot at Catton Hall, nr. Weston on Trent Derbs. REF 116-073
Tags: Greeves British Motorcycle Badge Badges Automobilia Catton Catton2016
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Greeves Sports Twin 32DC (1961) Engine 322cc
Registration Number 171 VEV
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Roadster production centred on a range of modest 250 and 325cc lightweight twins. By the 1960s, the Sports Twins had become probably the best of their kind, thanks to Greeves handling and quality build. An indication of the regard in which they were held was their adoption as police bikes.
171 VEV
In 1960, Sales Manager Derry Preston Cobb conceived a publicity stunt for the latest Greeves roadsters, in which TV actor and motorcycle enthusiast, Richard Wyler (famed for the TV Series The Man from Interpol) and road racer Joe Dunphy, would tour as many European cities as possible in eight days, on the bikes provided by Greeves. In 1960, A brand new 32DC, 171 VEV, was taken off the production line to join the press 32DC, 950 UNO, for the trip. Despite some mishaps the trip was successfully completed and was featured in the March 23rd and 30th editions of Motor Cycling.
After the trip, 171 VEV was retained by the factory as Bert Greeves' personal machine and was used to try out developments as they came along, which explains why the bike is fitted with some later fibreglass parts. These are however very much a part of the bike's history More recently the bike has been part of a large collection of British two stroke machines for the past thirty years, still complete with its original log book showing Invacar as its first owner.
Offered for auction at the Historics at Brooklands sale 5th June 2015 (when picture was taken) with a guide price of £2,500 to £ 3,000 selling for £ 4,200,.
Many thanks for a fantabulous 36,463,000 views (recalculated by Flickr)
Shot at Brooklands Museum, H+H Auction 06:06:2015 Ref 106-576
Tags: Greeves British 1960's SportsTwin Motorcycle Motorbike Brooklands 171VEV Invacar
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Greeves Hawkstone (1961) Engine 349cc Villiers
Registration Number YVS 642 (Greenock)
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In April 1957 Brian Stonebridge managed to beat the 500 cc bikes on the much smaller capacity Greeves round the demanding and hilly Hawkstone Park course, winning the 350 cc race and coming second in the 500 cc race, establishing Greeves' reputation as true off-road competition motorcycles he next Greeves model was called the 'Hawkstone'; to capitalise on this success and the company began to specialise in motocross motorcycles, ridden by champions including Peter Hammond, Jack Simpson and Norman Sloper.
Many thanks for a Marmalising
51,267,373 views
Shot 01.05.2016 Shot at Catton Hall, nr. Weston on Trent Derbs. REF 116-074
Tags: Greeves British 1960's Motorbike Motorcycle Scrambler Hawkstone Catton Catton2016 YVS642
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