Brough Superior

Brough Superior is a British luxury motorcycle marque established by George Brough in Nottingham in 1919. It became famous for combining unusually high performance, meticulous finishing, extensive customer specification, and very limited production. The brand's pre-war motorcycles were widely regarded as among the most advanced and expensive road motorcycles available, leading journalist H. D. Teague of The Motor Cycle magazine to describe them as the “Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles.” That phrase became central to the marque's identity, although Brough Superior was an independent motorcycle maker rather than a division of Rolls-Royce. George Brough was a racer, designer, and promoter who believed that he could improve on the motorcycles produced by his father, William E. Brough. The younger Brough's machines were assembled with unusual care. Components were initially fitted, then removed for painting or plating, and finally assembled again. Each completed motorcycle was test-ridden, and George Brough personally certified the performance of the machines. SS100 motorcycles were expected to achieve at least 100 mph before delivery, while SS80 models were tested to 80 mph. Motorcycles that failed to meet their intended specification were returned for adjustment or rework. The principal pre-war range included the SS80, SS100, 680 O.H.V., and 11.50. Most machines were built to order, so apparently identical models could differ in engine, finish, equipment, bodywork, and sidecar configuration. The SS100, generally powered by a 1,000 cc JAP or Matchless overhead-valve V-twin, became the best-known model. The SS80 used a 1,000 cc side-valve V-twin, while the 680 O.H.V. used a smaller 680 cc overhead-valve engine. The 11.50 was aimed partly at sidecar and police applications. The company also produced experimental and competition motorcycles, including the Golden Dream, the Pendine, and the unusual Brough-Austin Four, which used a modified Austin Seven automobile engine and a twin-rear-wheel layout. Brough Superior also supplied coach-built sidecars and, for a short period, automobiles. Its sidecars were offered in touring, sporting, cruiser, and occasional two-seat forms, with some designs incorporating sophisticated fuel-transfer arrangements. Between 1935 and 1939, George Brough produced approximately 85 cars using Hudson-based components for most models. The final car, the large V12-powered XII, was a one-off. Production of motorcycles ended during the Second World War. The Nottingham works turned to war production, including crankshaft work associated with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. After the war, suitable motorcycle engines were unavailable and the original business was wound up. Approximately 3,048 motorcycles across 19 models had been produced during the marque's principal 21-year manufacturing period. A substantial number survive, helping Brough Superior retain a strong position in the historic motorcycle and collector-vehicle world. The name was revived after Mark Upham acquired its rights in 2008. In 2013, Upham worked with French motorcycle designer Thierry Henriette on a new motorcycle. A prototype carrying the SS100 name was presented in Milan that year, and serial production of the revived brand began in 2016. The modern marque uses the heritage of the SS100 and the pre-war company's emphasis on rarity, craftsmanship, and performance as the basis for an ultra-premium motorcycle proposition. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete current ownership structure, production volume, executive roster, or detailed model range, so those fields remain limited here.

George Brough founded Brough Superior in Nottingham in 1919 after deciding that he could produce motorcycles superior to those made by his father, William E. Brough. George combined engineering ambition with strong personal involvement in racing, sales, customer relations, and publicity. His motorcycles were not intended to compete primarily on volume or low price. Instead, they were specified and finished as premium machines, often with individual customer requirements determining the final configuration. The company developed a reputation for disciplined assembly and testing. A motorcycle was first assembled to confirm that its components fitted correctly. It was then dismantled so that parts could be painted, plated, or otherwise finished before final assembly. George Brough test-rode completed machines and certified their performance. The SS100 was tested at 100 mph or more, and the SS80 at 80 mph or more; machines that failed to meet the expected standard were reworked. The process and the resulting finish supported the brand's long-standing luxury positioning. Early products included several Mark I and Mark II variants, the Overhead 500, the 680 S.V. Junior, and the 750 Side Valve. The production core eventually became the SS80, SS100, 680 O.H.V., and 11.50. The SS100 used JAP or Matchless 1,000 cc overhead-valve V-twin engines and became the marque's signature sports motorcycle. The SS80 used JAP or Matchless side-valve V-twins. The 680 O.H.V. occupied a smaller-capacity position, while the 11.50 was particularly suited to sidecar and institutional uses. Brough Superior's engineering and competition activities extended beyond the standard range. The Pendine was derived from the SS100 and offered a guaranteed top speed of 110 mph. The Golden Dream used an unusual vertically stacked, opposed four-cylinder arrangement and was displayed at the 1938 London Motorcycle Show. The Brough-Austin Four combined a modified Austin Seven engine and transmission with a distinctive twin-rear-wheel arrangement. Approximately ten were built. Racing and speed-record activity strengthened the brand's performance image. George Brough became the first rider to lap Brooklands at 100 mph on a side-valve motorcycle in 1922. Brough Superior machines also achieved victories in sprints and other speed events during the 1920s and 1930s. Eric Fernihough set major Brooklands and land-speed records on Brough Superior motorcycles, including motorcycle and sidecar records in the mid-to-late 1930s. Because Brooklands closed for racing in 1939, some of the relevant lap records remained standing after the venue ceased operation. The company manufactured sidecars with coach-built bodies and offered touring, sporting, cruiser, and occasional two-seat designs. Later petrol-tube sidecars incorporated a fuel tank into the sidecar frame, with a hand-pumped system transferring fuel to the motorcycle. This illustrates the marque's broader approach: sidecars were treated as engineered and finished products rather than as simple accessories. George Brough also extended the name to automobiles. Around 85 Brough Superior cars were made from 1935 to 1939. The first production car used a Hudson-derived straight-eight engine and chassis. Later cars used Hudson six-cylinder components, including a supercharged version, while the one-off XII used a Lincoln-Zephyr V12 engine with a chassis designed by Brough. The car business remained small and separate from the motorcycle marque's main historical identity. The Second World War ended motorcycle production. The Nottingham works undertook war-related work, including crankshaft production connected with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. After the war, the lack of appropriate engines and the changed industrial environment prevented a return to normal motorcycle manufacture. The company was ultimately wound up, although George Brough and later Albert Wallis continued servicing existing motorcycles and supplying parts for many years. Total historical motorcycle production is estimated at approximately 3,048 machines across 19 models. The brand remained valuable among collectors and historic-motorcycle enthusiasts. Mark Upham acquired the rights to the Brough Superior name in 2008. In 2013, he approached designer Thierry Henriette to create a new motorcycle. A prototype SS100 appeared in Milan three months later, and serial production of the revived marque began in 2016. The modern business is positioned around limited-volume, high-value motorcycles that reinterpret the original brand's focus on performance, hand finishing, exclusivity, and bespoke character. Current ownership, management, detailed production volumes, and the full contemporary catalogue are not established by the supplied reference material.

1. 2016Revival reaches serial production

   Serial production of motorcycles under the revived Brough Superior brand began.

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2. 2013Modern SS100 prototype shown

   A newly designed SS100 prototype was presented in Milan following the collaboration between Mark Upham and Thierry Henriette.

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3. 2008Historic name rights acquired

   Mark Upham acquired rights to the Brough Superior name.

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4. 1940Original motorcycle production ends

   Wartime work brought normal motorcycle production to an end; the company subsequently closed after the war.

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5. 1938Golden Dream displayed

   The experimental Golden Dream, with its unusual four-cylinder engine layout, was shown at the London Motorcycle Show.

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6. 1938XII one-off automobile built

   Brough Superior produced the XII, a one-off V12 automobile using a Lincoln-Zephyr engine and bespoke chassis.

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7. 1937Fernihough achieves motorcycle and sidecar speed records

   Eric Fernihough set major motorcycle and sidecar land-speed records on Brough Superior machinery.

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8. 1936Six-cylinder car range follows the straight-eight

   After Hudson stopped supplying the earlier eight-cylinder package, later Brough Superior cars adopted a shorter Hudson-based six-cylinder configuration.

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9. 1935Brough Superior automobiles enter production

   The first Brough Superior car used Hudson-based mechanical components and coachwork by W. C. Atcherley.

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10. 1927Pendine launched

    The Pendine was introduced as a higher-performance derivative of the SS100 with a guaranteed 110-mph top speed.

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11. 1924SS100 introduced

    The SS100 became Brough Superior's defining sports model, using 1,000 cc overhead-valve V-twin engines supplied by JAP or Matchless.

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12. 1922Brooklands 100-mph side-valve milestone

    George Brough became the first rider to lap Brooklands at 100 mph on a side-valve motorcycle.

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13. 1922SS80 enters the core range

    The SS80 was introduced as one of the marque's principal high-performance models.

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14. 1919Brough Superior founded in Nottingham

    George Brough established the Brough Superior works on Haydn Road in Nottingham, beginning the marque's principal manufacturing era.

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Ultra-luxury, handcrafted, low-volume, high-performance motorcycles built around British heritage and bespoke specification.

• SS100Motorcycle1924

  The SS100 was Brough Superior's signature pre-war sports motorcycle and later became the name used for the modern revival's first major model. Historical examples generally used a JAP or Matchless 1,000 cc overhead-valve V-twin. Approximately 383 were made between 1924 and 1940. George Brough's delivery-testing practice required the model to reach at least 100 mph before certification, reinforcing its status as a high-performance luxury motorcycle.

• SS80Motorcycle1922

  The SS80 was one of the principal production models of the original marque. It used a 1,000 cc side-valve V-twin supplied by JAP or Matchless and was tested to a target speed of 80 mph before delivery. Approximately 1,086 examples were produced from 1922 to 1940, making it one of the more numerous Brough Superior models while remaining rare by mainstream motorcycle standards.

• 680 O.H.V.Motorcycle1926

  The 680 O.H.V. used a 680 cc JAP overhead-valve V-twin. It formed part of the marque's early-to-mid production range and was built in substantially smaller numbers than the SS80. Approximately 547 examples were produced between 1926 and 1936.

• 11.50Motorcycle1933

  The 11.50 was a large side-valve V-twin motorcycle primarily intended for sidecar, police, and utility applications. Its 1,096 cc JAP engine designation referred to an RAC tax-horsepower rating rather than its actual output. Approximately 308 were produced between 1933 and 1940.

• PendinePerformance motorcycle1927

  The Pendine was a higher-performance development of the SS100 introduced in 1927. It carried a guaranteed 110-mph top speed and was used in speed and record-setting activities. One supercharged example associated with racer Barry Baragwanath later achieved notable Brooklands records under Noel Pope.

• Golden DreamExperimental motorcycle1938

  The Golden Dream was an experimental motorcycle unveiled at the 1938 London Motorcycle Show. George Brough described its unusual vertically stacked twin-crankshaft opposed four-cylinder arrangement as a “flat vertical” engine. It represented the marque's willingness to explore distinctive engineering beyond its established V-twin models.

• Brough-Austin FourThree-wheeled motorcycle1932

  Also known as the BS4, the Brough-Austin Four used a modified Austin Seven automobile engine and transmission. Because the transmission's driveshaft exited centrally, George Brough created a twin-rear-wheel final-drive arrangement. The two closely spaced rear wheels allowed the vehicle to be legally treated as a motorcycle in the United Kingdom. Approximately ten were built.

• Brough Superior sidecarsMotorcycle sidecar1921

  The company offered coach-built sidecars in sporting, touring, cruiser, and occasional two-seat forms. Later petrol-tube designs integrated fuel storage into the sidecar frame and used a hand pump to transfer fuel to the motorcycle. Sidecars were marketed as carefully finished complements to the motorcycles rather than basic utility attachments.

• Brough Superior automobilesAutomobile1935

  Approximately 85 automobiles were made from 1935 to 1939. Early cars used Hudson straight-eight components, while later cars used Hudson six-cylinder power units, including a listed supercharged version. The one-off XII used a Lincoln-Zephyr V12 engine and a bespoke chassis. These cars were a small historical extension of the Brough Superior name rather than the brand's main business.

• 2013Modern marque revival and SS100 presentation

  United Kingdom · International

  The revived brand used a new SS100 prototype, shown in Milan, to reconnect the historic name with contemporary hand-built performance motorcycles.

  Outcome. Serial production began in 2016.

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• 2013Carbon2 Moto2 return initiative

  International

  Brough Superior announced an intended return to Grand Prix motorcycle racing through the Carbon2 prototype for Moto2, developed with California-based Taylormade builders and branded as a Brough Superior.

  Outcome. The reference confirms the announcement and prototype, but does not establish a subsequent sustained racing programme.

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• 2013Develop a modern SS100Product launch

  The rights holder sought to translate the historic marque's performance and craftsmanship identity into a contemporary motorcycle.

  What changed. Mark Upham engaged designer Thierry Henriette; a new SS100 prototype was produced and presented in Milan.

  Aftermath. The revived brand entered serial production in 2016.

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• 2008Acquire rights to the historic marqueStrategy

  The dormant Brough Superior name retained value among collectors and historic-motorcycle enthusiasts.

  What changed. Mark Upham acquired the rights to the Brough Superior name.

  Aftermath. The rights acquisition enabled the development and launch of a modern motorcycle revival.

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• 1940Shift from motorcycle production to wartime workStrategy

  The Second World War disrupted the company's civilian motorcycle business and created demand for industrial war production.

  What changed. The Nottingham works undertook war-related manufacturing, including crankshaft work associated with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.

  Aftermath. Motorcycle production did not resume after the war, and the original company was wound up.

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• 2016Revived Brough Superior begins serial production

  Serial production of motorcycles under the revived Brough Superior marque began.

  Product launch
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• 2013New SS100 prototype presented in Milan

  A new SS100 prototype designed through the collaboration between Mark Upham and Thierry Henriette was shown in Milan.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2013Brough Superior announces a return to Grand Prix racing

  The revived marque announced a planned return to Grand Prix racing with the Carbon2 prototype for the Moto2 category. The motorcycle was associated with California-based Taylormade builders and presented under the Brough Superior name.

  Product launchOther
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• 2008Brough Superior name rights acquired

  Mark Upham acquired the rights to the historic Brough Superior name, creating the basis for a later revival.

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1. Brough Superior
2. Brough Superior official website