On the 21th July 2010, H & H auctions sold a 1937 Stevens 500 for £12980, which is a new record price for the marque.

It was purchased new in 1937 by Mr Jack Parker of Blackwell, West Midlands. This is probably the same Jack Parker that was a speedway star of the day. More information can be found on him here...Jack Parker.

It wasn`t Mr Parker`s first Stevens either. Although he had ridden trials for BSA, he decided to buy a local Wolverhampton made Stevens machine and in 1935 he bought a 350 HL3. With this he had a certain amount of success which included a gold medal in the ACU National Rally. No surprise then when he returned to Retreat Street to order a competition 500 which was supplied with a full lighting set and additional standard mudguards so that he could use it on the road. It was used in competitions at Brooklands, Silverstone and Dagenham.

The history of the intervening years is not yet known but the bike was discovered under a bush in the garden of Mr Parker`s London home by Mr Lewis Jackson of Sydenham and it first appears on the Stevens Register over 20 years ago. Mr Jackson started the restoration but the bike was passed on to a K W Lloyd along with documents relating to the bike and also to Mr Parker.

So, this is a restored 495cc LP5, registration DYN 381, with a frame number of 49837. If you are the proud new owner we would be very happy to hear from you. This is one of only six 500`s left in the world and the only one outside of Australia.