VICTORIA BERGMEISTER - Lot 23

VICTORIA BERGMEISTER Motorcycle 350 cc Road-facing V-twin 4-stroke 1956 Serial no. 353157 Frame no. 3571052 Model V35 sport French registration The motorcycle presented here was bought by our collector in parts, in boxes. It was complete, but required many hours of restoration before being finished in 2005. A restart will therefore be necessary. Since then, it has been driven 243 km to test it. Victoria was a German company based in Nuremberg, specializing in the manufacture of bicycles, but began making motorcycles in 1901, which it produced until around 1966. After the resumption of motorcycle production in 1946, once the Second World War was over, the first models to roll off the assembly lines were the smaller-displacement models developed years earlier. But in 1953, alongside its best-known model, the Victoria KR 16 Aero, the German brand introduced the V35 model, with KÜCHEN in charge of design. The engine would have a displacement of 347 cm3 (64×54 mm), two cylinders inclined at 80o (Guzzi's are at 90o), air cooling, a tumbled cylinder head and power estimated at around 21 HP. This translates into a top speed of around 130 km/h for a total weight of around 176 kg. The gearbox (separate four-speed) used a mixed combination. From the engine to the gearbox via a chain system, and from the gearbox to the rear wheel via a cardan shaft. It was equipped with drum brakes on both wheels, telescopic front forks and sliding rear shock absorbers. The Victoria Bergmeister V35 Sport (Bergmeister means mine inspector in German, we're not sure if it's related), was extremely well designed and meticulously detailed. This made it extremely expensive for its time, far more than a small brand like Victoria could afford. After just over 1,000 examples were produced, the model was discontinued due to very low sales. Today, it is a very rare and sought-after model.