Member’s bikes
Here we take a look at a one of the Club Member’s bikes of either special interest, a recent restoration or a new acquisition.
November 2022
This month’s choice is Carol Pearce’s Gnome et Rhone. You won’t see many of these!! A fascinating story behind this one…..
November 2022
This month’s choice is Carol Pearce’s Gnome et Rhone. You won’t see many of these!! A fascinating story behind this one…..
Built in Paris during the Nazi occupation between July 1941- 1942 in all probably looking at manufacturing dates against engine numbers she was built April/May 1942. Approximately 1000 model Rs were made During the war the factory was under Nazi control and they made bikes for the Wermacht. Under Nazi law no motorbike was allowed ro be made for the public that was over 100cc, therefore in 1941 the R was born as a 98cc motorbike which came in cream & red. This one is a bit odd though as it isn't in the standard paint scheme of the day, though it clearly hasn't been repainted, no under colour! It was found in a derelict barn on a farm in Normandy, leaning against a wall, so the paintwork on one side is worse that the other. It had been there 50 years apparently. It still has the original french registration from an area of Normandy. It is believed to have been painted completely black, including the rims and every spoke as it was used by the local resistance as they evaded Nazi patrols… The Gnome et Rhone club of France who have provided the dating letter for it's UK registration, also say that there is only one other Type R known to exist, though a few later models R1,2,3 and 4's. Carol found a photo of a group of resistance fighters when Paris was liberated and you can clearly see a similar Gnome et Rhone (but it has a Paris number plate) but also appears to be painted completely black! This is the usual colour of the R…. A black & Red version was made a few years later! Carol is looking to find out more about the bikes’ history and plans a trip to Normandy next year to make some local enquiries and research it’s history in more detail. |