McEvoy Motorcycles

McEvoy Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Derby and active during the 1920s. The business was established by Michael McEvoy, an Eton College graduate who began his engineering career at the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby. Although the company’s first motorcycle appeared in 1925, the enterprise is generally described as having been founded in 1924. Its products were developed during a period when Britain had a large and technically diverse motorcycle industry, with small specialist firms combining proprietary chassis designs and engines purchased from established suppliers. The first McEvoy motorcycle was a flat-twin model introduced in 1925 and powered by a 1,100 cc British Anzani engine. The company expanded its range by using engines from several manufacturers, including Villiers, Blackburne, British Anzani, and JAP. This approach enabled McEvoy to offer motorcycles across a broad performance range, from a comparatively small 172 cc Villiers-powered model to large-displacement sporting machines. The marque’s most notable design was a JAP 8/45 horsepower V-twin installed in an advanced super-sports frame. McEvoy claimed that this motorcycle could reach 100 miles per hour and promoted it as the fastest all-British big twin holding the relevant high-speed British records in its class. Competition was central to the company’s identity. In 1926, George William Patchett joined McEvoy from Brough Superior as competition manager. Patchett contributed both engineering and riding expertise, recording a 5:32 time on the demanding Isle of Man TT Mountain Course in the same year. He also achieved success at Brooklands on Anzani- and JAP-powered V-twins, and won the Championship of Southport at more than 116 miles per hour. During his association with McEvoy, Patchett was credited with setting nine world records. These results helped position the marque as a performance-oriented specialist rather than a mass-market motorcycle producer. The company grew sufficiently by 1926 for McEvoy to leave Rolls-Royce and move the motorcycle business into larger premises in Derby. Its prospects depended in part on financial backing from Cecil “Archie” Birkin, a prominent supporter of the enterprise. Birkin was killed while practicing for the 1928 Isle of Man TT. The loss of this financial support severely affected the company, and McEvoy Motorcycles was wound up in 1929. The brand therefore had only a brief commercial life, but its large V-twins, competition record, and association with interwar British speed culture have given it lasting significance among collectors and historians of British motorcycles. Surviving McEvoy motorcycles are rare. A 1928 example equipped with a 980 cc JAP 8/45 horsepower V-twin sold at auction in Henley-on-Thames in July 2009 for £108,200. The sale illustrates the importance attached to surviving examples, although it should not be treated as a measure of the historical company’s sales or financial performance.

Michael McEvoy established the motorcycle business in Derby in 1924 after beginning his engineering career at Rolls-Royce. The first McEvoy motorcycle was introduced in 1925. It used a 1,100 cc British Anzani flat-twin engine and established the company’s pattern of combining a McEvoy-developed motorcycle design with engines sourced from specialist British suppliers. By 1926, the business had grown enough for McEvoy to leave Rolls-Royce and move into larger Derby premises. The range expanded to include motorcycles using engines from Villiers, Blackburne, British Anzani, and JAP. This included a small 172 cc Villiers-powered model as well as substantially larger sporting motorcycles. The company’s strongest technical and commercial identity came from its high-performance V-twins, especially a JAP 8/45 horsepower engine installed in a super-sports frame. McEvoy promoted this machine as capable of 100 miles per hour and associated it with British high-speed records. Racing formed an important part of the marque’s development and publicity. George William Patchett, formerly associated with Brough Superior, joined McEvoy as competition manager in 1926. He recorded a 5:32 time on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, competed successfully at Brooklands on Anzani- and JAP-powered V-twins, and won the Championship of Southport at more than 116 miles per hour. Patchett was also credited with nine world records during his time with the company. These achievements reinforced McEvoy’s position as a specialist performance manufacturer. The company’s expansion depended partly on financial support from Cecil “Archie” Birkin. Birkin’s death while practicing for the 1928 Isle of Man TT removed a key source of backing. McEvoy Motorcycles could not continue independently and was wound up in 1929. Its operating period was consequently brief, but surviving machines—particularly the JAP-powered V-twins—remain important examples of Britain’s interwar specialist motorcycle industry. In July 2009, a 1928 McEvoy with a 980 cc JAP 8/45 horsepower V-twin sold at auction in Henley-on-Thames for £108,200.

1. 2009Rare McEvoy motorcycle reaches auction record

   A 1928 JAP-powered McEvoy sold in Henley-on-Thames for £108,200.

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2. 1929Company wound up

   McEvoy Motorcycles ceased trading and was wound up following the loss of its financial backer.

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3. 1928Death of financial backer Archie Birkin

   Cecil “Archie” Birkin was killed while practicing for the Isle of Man TT, undermining the company’s financial support.

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4. 1926Expansion and competition development

   McEvoy moved to larger Derby premises, adopted additional engine suppliers, and appointed George William Patchett as competition manager.

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5. 1925First McEvoy motorcycle introduced

   The company’s first motorcycle appeared as a flat twin powered by a 1,100 cc British Anzani engine.

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6. 1924McEvoy Motorcycles established in Derby

   Michael McEvoy began the motorcycle enterprise after working at the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby.

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A specialist British performance motorcycle marque emphasizing large-displacement engines, high-speed sporting chassis, and racing development.

• British Anzani 1,100 cc flat twinFlat-twin motorcycle1925

  Introduced in 1925, this was the first motorcycle produced by McEvoy. It used a 1,100 cc British Anzani flat-twin engine and represented the company’s initial entry into the British specialist motorcycle market.

• JAP 8/45 horsepower V-twin super-sports motorcyclePerformance motorcycle

  McEvoy’s most prominent sporting design used a JAP 8/45 horsepower V-twin in an advanced super-sports frame. The company claimed a top speed of 100 miles per hour and marketed the machine around high-speed performance and British record achievements.

• 172 cc Villiers modelSmall-displacement motorcycle

  McEvoy also produced a smaller motorcycle using a 172 cc Villiers engine. It broadened the range beyond the marque’s large sporting twins and demonstrated the company’s use of engines from multiple British suppliers.

• Blackburne- and JAP-powered motorcyclesEngine-sourced motorcycle range

  The McEvoy range included additional models using Blackburne and JAP engines. Exact model designations and production quantities are not established in the available reference material, but these variants formed part of the company’s broader multi-supplier product strategy.

• 1926Competition and high-speed record program

  United Kingdom

  McEvoy used racing and record attempts to promote its motorcycles, with George William Patchett competing at the Isle of Man TT, Brooklands, and the Championship of Southport.

  Outcome. Patchett recorded a 5:32 Isle of Man TT Mountain Course time, won the Championship of Southport at more than 116 miles per hour, and was credited with nine world records during his McEvoy association.

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• 1926Expand the range through multiple engine suppliersStrategy

  McEvoy was developing a specialist motorcycle business in a market where manufacturers commonly relied on external engine makers.

  What changed. The company added models using Villiers, Blackburne, British Anzani, and JAP engines, ranging from a 172 cc motorcycle to large V-twins.

  Aftermath. The strategy gave McEvoy a broader product range while preserving a performance-focused identity, but the business was ultimately wound up in 1929 after the death of its financial backer.

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• 1926Prioritize racing and high-speed performanceStrategy

  The company sought recognition in Britain’s competitive interwar motorcycle market.

  What changed. McEvoy appointed George William Patchett as competition manager and developed high-performance Anzani- and JAP-powered V-twins for racing and record attempts.

  Aftermath. Patchett’s results at the Isle of Man TT, Brooklands, and Southport strengthened the marque’s sporting reputation.

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• 20091928 McEvoy sells at auction for £108,200

  A surviving 1928 McEvoy fitted with a 980 cc JAP 8/45 horsepower V-twin sold at auction in Henley-on-Thames for £108,200.

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• 1929McEvoy company wound up after death of financial backer

  McEvoy Motorcycles ceased trading and was wound up after financier Cecil "Archie" Birkin was killed while practicing for the Isle of Man TT.

  Bankruptcy
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1. McEvoy Motorcycles