LOT 51

1957 Sunbeam 489cc S7 Registration no. MLN 449 Frame no. S7 5129 Engine no. S8 13636 (see text)

Sold for £5,750 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

Lot 51

1957 Sunbeam 489cc S7
Registration no. MLN 449 Frame no. S7 5129 Engine no. S8 13636 (see text)

The Summer Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show (Three-Day Auction)|2 July 2021, 12:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1957 Sunbeam 489cc S7
Registration no. MLN 449
Frame no. S7 5129
Engine no. S8 13636 (see text)

The Sunbeam inline twin was introduced by BSA, owners of Sunbeam Cycles Limited, in 1947. A luxury tourer inspired by the pre-war BMW, it was of advanced specification with overhead-camshaft engine, shaft drive and plunger rear suspension. The clutch housing and four-speed gearbox bolted directly to the back of the engine, which was rubber mounted in the duplex loop frame, an innovation that required a flexible joint in the exhaust system ahead of the silencer. The first S7 version was equipped with balloon tyres, a feature not carried over to the deliberately more conventional, and also lighter and cheaper, S8 introduced in 1949. Never as popular as BSA's more performance orientated models, the gentlemanly S7 and S8 remained in production until 1957. This S7 comes with an expired MoT (1982); an old-style continuation logbook (issued 1964); and a V5C Registration Certificate. It should be noted that the latter still records the former engine number, 'S8 7131'.

Saleroom notices

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Additional information

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