1937 Brough Superior

1937 Brough Superior: The Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles

In the golden age of British motorcycling, one name stood above the rest for sheer prestige, performance, and panache: Brough Superior. And among the marque’s most legendary creations, the 1937 Brough Superior SS100 remains a symbol of engineering excellence and timeless style—a machine so revered, it earned the nickname “the Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles”.

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A Machine Born for Legends

The Brough Superior story is inseparable from its charismatic founder, George Brough. Determined to build the world’s finest motorcycles, Brough set up shop in Nottingham in 1919, after parting ways with his father’s motorcycle business. His vision was clear: every Brough Superior would be a bespoke masterpiece, tailored to its owner’s desires and built to the highest standards of the day.

By 1937, the SS100 had already become the stuff of legend. Each bike was guaranteed to reach 100 mph—a staggering feat at a time when most cars and motorcycles struggled to hit half that speed. The 1937 model, in particular, was powered by a 990cc air-cooled OHV 50-degree V-twin engine, producing 48 horsepower at 4,200 rpm and capable of an observed top speed of 105 mph. This was, quite simply, the superbike of its era.

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Engineering Excellence

What set the 1937 Brough Superior SS100 apart wasn’t just its speed, but its meticulous engineering. The heart of the machine was the mighty V-twin engine—by this time, Brough had begun using Matchless engines alongside the earlier JAP units. The Matchless BS/X2 engine featured a “square” bore and stroke (85.5mm x 85.5mm), a 6.5:1 compression ratio, and innovative features like enclosed pushrods and hairpin valve springs.

The SS100’s frame was a rigid single-loop design, paired with Brough’s own Castle leading-link front forks—patterned after early Harley-Davidson forks for superior handling. Braking was handled by Enfield-supplied hubs, with a 7-inch drum up front and an 8-inch at the rear. The four-speed Burman gearbox, borrowed from the Norton International, made for smooth and reliable shifting.

Every SS100 was assembled to order, with George Brough himself test-riding each bike before delivery. If it didn’t meet his exacting standards, it didn’t leave the factory. This attention to detail is part of what makes surviving examples so coveted today.

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A Bike with Stories to Tell

The 1937 SS100 wasn’t just a machine for the well-heeled enthusiast—it was a bike for adventurers and celebrities alike. T.E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”) famously owned several Brough Superiors, and the SS100’s reputation for speed and reliability made it a favorite among racers and record-setters. In 1937, Eric Fernihough set a sidecar motorcycle land speed record of 137 mph on a Brough Superior.

Each bike has its own story. One particularly original 1937 SS100, for example, was first registered to George Brough himself, who liked to keep an example of each new model for testing and troubleshooting. Over the decades, it passed through the hands of collectors, racers, and enthusiasts, each adding a new chapter to its remarkable history.

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A Lasting Legacy

Production of the Brough Superior ended in 1940, with just over 3,000 motorcycles built in total—each one a hand-crafted work of art. Today, the 1937 SS100 is among the most desirable classic motorcycles in the world, with pristine examples fetching well over $150,000 at auction.

But the true legacy of the 1937 Brough Superior isn’t just its rarity or value. It’s the way it captured the imagination of a generation, setting the standard for what a motorcycle could be: fast, beautiful, and built without compromise. Even now, nearly a century later, the SS100’s silhouette and spirit continue to inspire riders and dreamers alike.

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Conclusion

The 1937 Brough Superior SS100 isn’t just a motorcycle—it’s a legend on two wheels. With its blend of speed, craftsmanship, and history, it remains the ultimate expression of British motorcycling ambition. To see one in the metal is to glimpse an era when motorcycles were more than machines—they were masterpieces, built for those who dared to chase the horizon.