The David Plant Collection, Formerly part of the Anthony Blight Collection of Historic Works and Racing Sunbeams , 1924 Sunbeam 500cc Model 11 Sprint

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.

The 1914 2¾hp and the 3½hp models proved successful in long-distance trials and road-racing from the start, the '3½' achieving a 2nd place finish, ridden by Howard Davies, in the 1914 Isle of Man Senior TT. At this time, a talented young engineer and rider, George Dance, joined the company. Two of Sunbeam's specialities were sprints and hill-climbs, for which Dance, now acknowledged as chief tuner, developed a series of fast overhead-valve 'Dance Specials'. Dance was considered almost unbeatable in the 350 and 500 classes, often winning every class at venues such as Style, Kop, Pendine and Brooklands.

Cashing in on Dance's exploits, Sunbeam briefly catalogued 'Sprint' models incorporating his competition developments. Two models were listed: the 350cc Model 10 and 500cc Model 11. Discontinued by 1926, when the public-road events for which it was designed were outlawed, the 'Sprint' was made in tiny numbers and authentic survivors are very rare; the Marston Sunbeam Club records only 18 Sprints of both types known to exist worldwide.

An older restoration which has nicely mellowed, this Sprint model was purchased from the Anthony Blight Collection of Historic Works and Racing Sunbeams when the collection was dispersed at a UK auction in 1992. The machine comes with the original invoice from aforementioned auction dated 29th November 1992 for Lot 208, together with a scan of the catalogue page.

At the time of the 1992 sale the Sunbeam was described as one of only a handful of surviving examples, prepared to a high standard and equipped with an ML OK1 magneto, the wide handlebars associated with sprint machines, a hand-change gearbox, and a leather tool box. A notable feature is the split front down-tube accommodating the exhaust pipe.

Anthony Blight was a Cornish solicitor with a passion for cars, motorcycles and automotive engineering. Originally intending to pursue a naval career and seeing active service as a Midshipman between 1943 and 1945, he went up to Oxford after the war, graduating in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

He subsequently joined the family's legal practice and, despite a busy professional and family life, found time to indulge his enthusiasm for racing cars and motorcycles. His collection of Talbot team cars had been tracked down and restored with a tenacity and attention to detail that few could equal, and his book George Roesch and the Invincible Talbot remains a standard work on the marque.

The same tenacity, determination and attention to detail were reflected in his acquisition of what was perhaps the most significant collection of racing Sunbeams covering the period from 1924 to 1935. The pursuit and acquisition of elusive models formed part of his pleasure, and his supervision of the restoration work, together with a constant search for rare and original components, resulted in a collection of racing Sunbeams of outstanding quality. Many of these machines were displayed in museums, including the Midlands Motor Museum at Bridgnorth and the Brooklands Museum. There are no documents with this Lot.

Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
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