Over the (many) years that I’ve been involved with motorcycles, I’ve always assumed that, at some point, the supply of ‘barn finds’ would dry up. My own barn find – or, more accurately, hedge find – a 1939 Triumph Tiger 80, is still in regular use, but the days when you used to see these things stuck in hedges or poking out from behind garages and sheds seem long gone.
One of the commonest requests to the website involves a picture of a Douglas followed by ‘what is it, what is it worth and how do I find a new home for it?’ While I carefully avoid the second point, I can usually help with the first and the third, and an advertisement in the Club magazine often follows. While Dragonflys, Mark Series and Aeros are generally well represented, I’ve had a couple arrive recently that have been quite special. The first was an S6 – a sporting 600cc side-valve flat twin from 1930. Unusual but not rare, one might say. This one, however, is virtually a one-owner-from-new machine, essentially dry-stored since the 1970s, in time-warp condition and complete down to the very ‘period’ mascot attached to the steering damper knob! It will be a fascinating project and wonderful to see it back on the road.
The second machine is decidedly unusual. It came to light following a house sale and was found under a collapsed shed. It is, I think, a model K32 – a 350cc machine from 1932, an overhead valve design made for one year only. The Douglas concern was in financial difficulties at this time, few of the overhead valve models were built and only a handful are known to the Club. It will take serious work to bring it back to life but the end result should be quite something.
So, do barn finds still exist? It seems that the answer is yes. I would love to own both of these machines but, going back to where this article began – I was 25 when I started to restore the Tiger 80 and 41 when I finally heard it running! Perhaps I should finish a few other projects first …
The London Douglas Motor Cycle Club 
I rebuilt what was sold to me as a K32, that actually turned out to be an M32, the 500 version, but they shared cycle parts. Most gave up their engines to 500cc racing cars in the fifties, and went “bang” very quickly! It was an incredibly flimsy machine, everything was made of the thinnest material to keep the weight down. Possibly down to the 2cwt cheaper road tax of the day? Motoliner at Maidstone said they didn’t really need their fixtures to straighten the frame, as you could do it over your knee! Sprightly when running, but skittish due to the light build. Too much power for the crankshaft, although the 350 might fare better. Delightful to look at though!
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