If you asked a fan of classic racing motorcycles to name what they considered the best looking of all the machines produced by British factories during their heyday, the Velocette KTT Mk.VIII would more than likely be at the top of, or very close to, most people’s list.
The massive finning of the engine sitting below the deep black petrol tank with the gold lining defining its profile is iconic, so it is no wonder it is one of the most sought-after race machines of its period, commanding high premiums when one comes up for sale, just on looks alone, not to mention reputation.
The KTT, standing for Kamshaft Tourist Trophy, enjoyed three decades of production in its various guises, starting with the first one on sale to the public in 1928, with the retrospectively named Mk.I version, and ending in 1950 with the last of the Mk.VIIIs. Basically, the KTT was a production racer sold to the public with each of its variants benefiting from improvements from the works machines raced by such luminaries as Alec Bennett and Stanley Woods.
It almost goes without saying that any old race bike now may not be in the same condition, complete with all the right/original
