• Year of manufacture 
    1956
  • Motorcycle type 
    Street
  • Engine number 
    4J-822385
  • Lot number 
    224
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Colour  
    Other
  • Location
    United Kingdom

Description

1956 Honda 125cc Model JC Benly
Frame no. JC-56-18049
Engine no. 4J-822385

What would become one of the world's largest motor-manufacturing corporations arose from the ashes of Japan's defeat in WW2. Soichiro Honda's company had made piston rings before and during the war but in its aftermath he changed direction and set up shop as a motorcycle manufacturer, fitting war-surplus engines into bicycles. When the supply of engines ran out, Honda designed and built his own. These early Hondas were two-strokes but in response to customer demand a four-stroke motorcycle was introduced in 1951: the 146cc Model E, which was clearly inspired by pre-war European designs. In 1953 Honda introduced its first modern motorcycle: the J-type Benly, which again showed European influence and looked very much like the contemporary NSU. Like its German counterpart, the new Benly featured a spine frame, leading-link front fork, torsion-bar rear suspension and left-side kick-starter. The engine was a 98cc four-stroke driving via an integral three-speed gearbox. Development of the J-type Benly progressed via the 138cc JA, 125cc JB and similar-sized but four-speed JC, the latter arriving towards the end of 1955. By this time Honda had an overhead-camshaft model in the range – the Dream SA – and the J-type Benly was produced for only a few more years.

Apparently substantially original and complete, this very early Honda displays a total of only 10,662 kilometres (approximately 6,600 miles) on the odometer. However, there are some parts missing including the exhaust silencer and tail light lens (the tank badges are included in the sale). There are no documents with this Lot, which is offered for restoration and sold strictly as viewed. Hondas of this vintage are offered for sale only infrequently and thus this well-preserved Benly represents a wonderful opportunity for the discerning collector to acquire one of these rare machines.

Bonhams 1793
101 New Bond Street
London
W1S 1SR
United Kingdom
Contact Person Kontaktperson
First name 
Bonhams Collectors’ Car department

Phone 
+44-2074685801
Fax 
+44-2074477401