1950 Excelsior-JAP Mark IV 500cc Speedway Racing Motorcycle

The introduction of dirt-track, or speedway, racing into Britain in the late 1920s prompted many manufacturers to jump on the bandwagon with purpose-built machines. Douglas and Rudge dominated speedway's formative years in the UK, before the arrival of the 'Speedway JAP' engine in 1930 ushered in a period of dominance that would last until the 1960s. As the JAP was a proprietary engine, available to all, it provided the opportunity for specialist frame builders to capture the lion's share of the market. Excelsior though, an established JAP customer, was one of the few mainstream motorcycle companies to retain a speedway model in the catalogue after WW2. This rare Excelsior speedway motorcycle was treated to full 'last nut and bolt' restoration in 2014 and is presented in commensurately excellent condition. The short-stroke JAP engine has been run but once.