LOT 234

1918 Sunbeam 4hp French Military Motorcycle Registration no. not registered Frame no. 7444 Engine no. 134 7291

Sold for £9,775 inc. premium

Lot 234

1918 Sunbeam 4hp French Military Motorcycle

The Autumn Stafford Sale - The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|12 October 2025, 11:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1918 Sunbeam 4hp French Military Motorcycle
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 7444
Engine no. 134 7291

• Rare French-ordered Sunbeam
• An older restoration
• Stored for many years

The first Sunbeam motorcycle - a 350cc side-valve single - left the Wolverhampton premises of John Marston, hitherto a manufacturer of finest quality enamelled goods, bicycles and - latterly - cars, in 1912. Designed by Harry Stevens (later to found AJS) the 2¾hp Sunbeam was equipped with a two-speed countershaft gearbox and fully enclosed all-chain drive, proving an instant success in an era when the norm was hub gears and belt-drive. Like Marston's other products, his motorcycles soon established a reputation for sound construction and exemplary finish. Their racetrack performances did nothing to discourage sales either.

When WWI broke out, some civilian 3½hp Sunbeams were used by the British Army, but the biggest user on the Western Front was the Royal Naval Air Service (forerunner of the Fleet Air Arm), which ordered the 3½hp as its favoured model. To find such an original machine as this Sunbeam is unusual, since the bulk of production was for the Allies rather than home forces. The Imperial Russian Army ordered 1,450 Sunbeams, among other makes, most being delivered via Archangel until the Revolution prompted an embargo, after which they were redirected to other armies. France took up to 1,000 4hp belt-drive solos, only a few of which have survived, and Italy ordered 500 3½hp models.

Formerly part of the Fred Evans Collection, this 4hp Sunbeam was purchased from a UK auction in October 2024. Reputedly fully restored to original factory specification before entering long-term storage as part of the aforementioned collection. An email printout on file from the Marston Sunbeam Motorcycle Club & Register states that this machine's frame, engine and gearbox numbers are commensurate with those of a 1918 4hp French Military model Sunbeam, based on information held by the Register and also known French Military machines, of which they have details of five others. Stored for some time, this rare military Sunbeam will require recommissioning/restoration to a greater of lesser extent before returning to the road.

Key not required

Footnotes

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Please see the Auction Information and Guide for Buyers at the top of the main sale page, for bidders' obligations. The Autumn Stafford Sale

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This Lot will be auctioned on Sunday 12 October, with the auction starting at 11am GMT.

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