Douglas With Dixon Banking Sidecar

A 1923 Douglas motorcycle with Dixon banking sidecar

Key facts

  • Year

    1923

  • Country

    Great Britain

  • Capacity

    596cc

  • Cylinders

    2

  • Maximum speed

    Not known

  • Price new

    Not marketed

  • Manufacturer

    Douglas Motors Ltd

This exhibit is notable for the banking sidecar chassis, designed and built by Freddie Dixon. The complete outfit could be banked to either side for optimal cornering speeds. The sidecar wheel is mounted on a seven-inch crank, raised or lowered by the passenger with the long lever in front of the wheel. Using a similar 600cc Douglas motorcycle in combination with this unique banking chassis, Dixon won the first Isle of Man TT race for sidecar outfits in 1923, at an average speed of 53.15mph/85.54kph.

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Panoramic view of the first floor of the National Motor Museum

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