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LOT 475

1968 BSA 650cc Thunderbolt Registration no. PAO 982F Frame no. A65TE 5070 Engine no. XE 02916 A65L

Sold for £4,715 inc. premium
Lot 475

1968 BSA 650cc Thunderbolt
Registration no. PAO 982F Frame no. A65TE 5070 Engine no. XE 02916 A65L

1968 BSA 650cc Thunderbolt
Registration no. PAO 982F
Frame no. A65TE 5070
Engine no. XE 02916 A65L

Following Triumph's lead, BSA turned to unitary construction of the engine/gearbox for its range of parallel twins, launching the all-new 500cc A50 and 650cc A65 Star models in January 1962. The cycle parts were much as before, comprising a duplex loop, swinging-arm frame fitted with a telescopic front fork. The first high-performance variant - the A65R Rocket - arrived in October 1963, only to be superseded the following year by the Lightning, the first of the unitary construction twins (along with its A50 equivalent, the Cyclone) to be equipped with the new splayed-port, twin-carburettor cylinder head. For 1965 the Star tourers were replaced by the A50 Royal Star and A65 Thunderbolt, both of which came with a single Amal Monobloc carburettor.

This machine is a 1968 BSA A65 Thunderbolt fitted with a 1970 A65 Lightning engine equipped with an A65 Thunderbolt cylinder head. The BSA was sold to the current owner in 1991 as a restored machine and has since been tidied up by the vendor, the works including fitting a replacement fuel tank and side panels. Used sparingly, the bike has been carefully looked after by the owner, who has a sizeable collection of BSA A65s. Accompanying documentation includes a quantity of MoTs and SORNs, a V5C Registration Certificate and current MoT.
Offered with key

Footnotes

All lots are 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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