A Marsh V8 Motorcycle Once Thought Lost Finds a Home at National Motorcycle Museum

Once thought to be lost, this iconic Marsh V8 motorcycle has reappeared at the National Motorcycle Museum, where it will now join another Fred-Marsh constructed motorcycle, the Marsh Four-Cylinder.

Handbuilt by Fred Marsh in the 1960s, the V8 500cc motorcycle has been kept in secret storage for over 45 years in the hands of Don Lowman - pictured above. Lowman has special ties to this bike as he not only kept the bike in storage but also worked under Fred Marsh as an apprentice in the 1950s, before the V8 was built.

The pair, who became lifelong friends during their time working together, were so close that when Fred passed away, his widow passed the motorcycle on to Lowman and the bike has not been used in 45 years. Lowman, until finding a new home for the bike at the National Motorcycle Museum, placed the bike in storage in 1979.

The Marsh V8 500cc motorcycle, which was long thought to be lost due to its secluded storage, is in pristine condition and is certainly one of the biggest motorcycle discoveries of the last few years.

All that’s known so far is that the bike has a new home where it will join its Marsh four-cylinder sibling in the Museum located in Solihull. Although further details about its restoration will be made available in the coming weeks.

The family ties to the Marsh V8 go back a long way as the bike was used by Fred’s son-in-law, who made an appearance on the bike at the Isle of Man TT in the 1970s, while it’s also believed that the Marsh V8 was built in honour of the Moto Guzzi V8 motorcycle which was around in the 1950s.

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