Sometimes a bike is rare because it’s limited production, and sometimes it’s rare because consumers weren’t particularly interested so sales were low. But the Starmaker is rare because Greeves – the company who made it – only made 89 as they didn’t think it would be successful. They weren’t wrong.
Motocross Action Magazine sums this bike up brilliantly but the short version is that in the early 60s, Greeves was getting frustrated with the limitations of the Villiers engine that they were utilizing so they decided to build their own engine. Villiers tried to save the relationship by creating an all-new engine (called the Starmaker) which featured dual sequential Amal carbs. As MXA put it, “Starmaker 24ME production was only 89 units, as Greeves had little confidence in the design. Greeves only made a motocross model of the twin-carb Starmaker, but this would have been a better road race engine. Unfortunately, Greeves was right. The machine was so bad that factory rider Dave Bickers switched to rival brand Husqvarna in the middle of the ’63 GP season. Many Greeves dealers couldn’t get the Starmaker to run, and customers demanded refunds. The twin-carb Starmaker was the end of the Greeves/Villiers relationship, and Greeves began manufacturing their own engines.”
Interestingly, MXA also says that “there are no Starmakers left in England, and this original and unrestored example at Tom White’s Early Years of Motocross Museum may be the only remaining intact Starmaker in the world. Value is at least $40,000.” On the other hand, the seller of this example (VIN: 24ME136) says that “probably only about 15 of them exist in the United States.” He continues on to say that it’s been a display piece for a few years and that it leaks a tiny bit of oil when it sits. It’s offered on a Bill of Sale.
Find this Starmaker for sale in Reno, Nevada with bidding up to $2,025 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.