From the estate of the late 'Rocket' George Wander, 1971 BSA 740cc Rocket III Mk1

Registration no. EVB 92J Frame no. HD00193 A75R Engine no. HD00193 A75R

• Owned by Rocket George since April 1977
• Fastidiously maintained in the current ownership
• Large history file

This was the bike that gave our friend Rocket George Wander his nickname. In April 1977 George responded to a small ad which read "BSA Rocket Three £550 or P/X cheaper British bike". We know this because the very small advert is taped to the back of an envelope (within the history file) which has been cut in half. The bottom half of the same envelope bears a handwritten and dated receipt for £540 – so we know that George negotiated a £10 reduction in the price! It was the start of a 45 year love affair, and the bike became part of the family.

The BSA triple had a short production life which started in 1968 and ended prematurely in 1972 due to the company's huge financial problems. By contrast the last Triumph T160 rolled off the production line in 1976. The Rocket 3 and Trident were brought to the market shortly before Honda's ground-breaking CB750. The triples were faster, but the styling didn't meet with universal approval, and they lacked the glamour of the Honda which boasted a five-speed gearbox, an overhead camshaft, a disc brake, and an electric starter. A successful but hugely expensive racing programme ceased when the money ran out. By this time the British motorcycle industry was in deep trouble, and the arrival of several other Japanese superbikes was imminent.

George's Rocket 3 is supplied with a current V5C, an older V5, multiple tax discs, the oldest being 1982, and a stack of old MoT certificates. The earliest supplied MoT was issued 14.2.78 and records a mileage of 20,327. By 2005 the mileage on the MoT certificate had increased to 45,427, but in 2006 it is quoted as only 37. Therefore a new speedometer is presumed to have been fitted around that time. The bike is offered with a Haynes manual, BSA's own workshop manual, parts list, and maintenance notes. George's BSA M24 website includes a photo of the Rocket 3 with the comment "fully restored in 2006", but the very large number of invoices supplied suggest that he may also have restored it at some previous date, and that regular maintenance was certainly ongoing. The engine oil is believed to have been drained, and some recommissioning will be necessary following a period of inactivity. Prospective bidders should satisfy themselves as to the motorcycle's completeness and mechanical condition prior to bidding. Offered with keys.

There cannot be many BSA triples boasting longer ownership or such fastidious maintenance. George's cherished Rocket 3 is offered for sale now because he couldn't face parting with it while he was still with us. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a much-loved machine.