Project 42 — A Unique Find

A few weeks ago, reader Rex contacted me about my possible interest in acquiring his VFR. As it turns out, Rex's story is an interesting and unique one. Rex is British, and back in 1986 he was on the staff of Motor magazine, and as such he became privy to the press introduction of the new 1986 Honda VFR model. Honda made three bikes available to the press and, with the road tests completed, Rex inquired as to the possibility of acquiring one of the test units. An agreement was struck and Rex was given his choice of red, white or blue. His wife, Carol, opined that blue was the fairer of the three and the choice was made.

Shown below is that very bike. In 1987 Rex and Carol emigrated to the U.S., specifically Michigan, when he accepted a position with Ford Motor Company. Rex shipped the VFR with his household belongings and somehow managed to wade through the importation process, getting the bike duly registered.

So, here is possibly the only European-spec second-generation Honda VFR750 Interceptor legally residing in America. Rex has reluctantly decided that the Interceptor is too tempting a pleasure machine, and made the difficult decision to pass it on the next caretaker. As a partial replacement, he has acquired the Morgan Plus 8 pictured below. By happenstance, my Dad had an identical-appearing Morgan Plus 4 when I was a teen, so I spent much of our time together drooling over the Morgan.

In any event, Patti and I loaded the VFR onto the trailer for the ride home as Rex soulfully watched his old friend leave his life. But its future is bright, as I embark on the journey to find this unique motorbike its new owner. The VFR has just ticked over 18,000 miles and is gleaming in its original bodywork. I will need to address a few cosmetic bits and treat the bike to some fresh tires, but that's about all. Stay tuned.