Velocette Venom - Velocette Venom Thruxton

Velocette Venom Thruxton

In 1965, the well proven Venom was improved by Velocette designer Bertie Goodman with a special race kit complete with radically revised cylinder head, an Amal Grand Prix carburetor and reworked cam followers. The following year this went into production as the Velocette Thruxton. Also known as the Venom Thruxton, this aimed to fill the gap left by the demise of the BSA Gold Star and was named after the Thruxton Circuit race track on a former wartime airfield in Hampshire. The Velocette Thruxton was a true racer, with a full race specification cylinder head that was gas flowed by hand to accommodate extra-large valves and a downdraught inlet port. The Amal carburetor was so large it required a distinctive cut away in the bottom of the fuel tank and race cams boosted performance to up to 120 mph (190 km/h). As well as the traditional black with gold lining finish, the Velocette Thruxton was also produced with an unusual blue frame, forks and seat and silver petrol tank with gold lining. In 1968 the Lucas magneto was phased out and Velocette replaced it with coil ignition. A total of 1108 Thruxtons were built but although it had more power than the Venom the Thruxton couldn't save Velocette and the company was wound up in 1968, with remaining stock sold until mid 1970. The Thruxton has gone on to become one of the most sought after Velocette motorcycles today, however, and many private owners convert standard Venom models to the more valuable Thruxton specification.