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LOT 320

1954 BSA 499cc Gold Star Trials Registration no. YSU 294 Frame no. CB32.604 Engine no. BB.34.GS.1358

Sold for £4,830 inc. premium
Lot 320

1954 BSA 499cc Gold Star Trials
Registration no. YSU 294 Frame no. CB32.604 Engine no. BB.34.GS.1358

1954 BSA 499cc Gold Star Trials
Registration no. YSU 294
Frame no. CB32.604
Engine no. BB.34.GS.1358

• Acquired by Bob Gardiner circa 1985
• Non-original engine
• An older restoration

Arguably the most successful production racing motorcycle ever, the BSA Gold Star formed the mainstay of Clubman's racing in the 1950s, while its trials and scrambles derivatives demonstrated the design's versatility by chalking up an equally impressive record in off-road competition. In the early post-war years BSA's top trials rider was the Irish star Bill Nicholson who, together with rider/engineer Brian Martin, would develop the B32/34 and later Gold Star competition models into formidable trials machines.

Dating from the last year of the BB series (both it and the new 'Big Fin' CB were offered in 1954) this 500 Goldie had previously been raced as a scrambler and also used for stunts in a motorcycle display team. According to Bob Gardiner, writing in 1987: 'At some time it had also pulled a sidecar and generally speaking had led a very hard life.

'It had belonged to Mr Yates Senior and was sold to me by his son Tony after his father's death. At the time of purchase the machine was housed in a standard CB31 frame, but fortunately the correct CB32 Gold Star frame was supplied with the bike as part of the deal. Although badly bent, this frame was jigged and straightened for me by frame maestro Eric Cheney and was subsequently used in the rebuild. Gold Stars using GS engine prefix and CB32 frames are quite rare in trials trim and this should ultimately reflect in the value of the machine.

'The crankcase halves had obviously been replaced possibly due to an engine blow up and consequently were not stamped with an engine number. These halves were therefore used in the rebuild of the DB32 scrambler and another pair of crankcase halves bearing a BB number contemporary to the frame number have been used in the rebuild.'

More detailed hand-written notes on the machine's rebuild are in the file together with a complete list of new parts, etc used. The file also contains old/current V5C documents; BSA Gold Star OC and Science Museum dating letters; assorted correspondence; photocopied literature; Engine Brake Test Sheet (copy); and Eric Cheney's invoice for straightening the frame.

Footnotes

As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

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  • 28 April 2001, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
  • 27 April 2019, 09:00 - 18:00 BST

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