LOT 21

1951 Sunbeam 499cc S7 Project Registration no. MNB 264 Frame no. S7-5270 Engine no. S8-7753

Sold for £2,760 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

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Lot 21

1951 Sunbeam 499cc S7 Project

Motorcycles Online - The Summer Sale|24 June 2024, 12:20 BST|Online, Milton Keynes

1951 Sunbeam 499cc S7 Project
Registration no. MNB 264
Frame no. S7-5270
Engine no. S8-7753

A wartime design by Erling Poppe, the Sunbeam inline twin was introduced by BSA, owners of Sunbeam Cycles Limited, in 1947. A luxury tourer, 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. The front fork and 7" brake were now standard BSA components, and there were numerous other changes in the interests of rationalisation. Never as popular as BSA's more performance orientated models, the gentlemanly S7 and S8 remained in production until 1957.

Offered as a very rewarding restoration project, this Sunbeam S7 was restored partially by the late vendor and is sold strictly as viewed. Sadly not much is known of its previous history and is offered with a V5C and invoice for the powder coating.
Key not required

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