Highlights
- Matching frame, engine, and gearbox numbers S7-179
- Three previous keepers with comprehensive provenance
- Complete 'nut and bolt' restoration completed in 2024
- Retains 79-year-old original paint throughout
- Award-winning: Best Restored Motorcycle at 2025 Fraserburgh Vintage Car Rally
The Appeal
The S7 came to market quickly after World War II because it was largely based on the BMW R71. Big, comfortable and with a car-like engine arrangement, it was intended to provide buyers with a long-distance touring bike.
This beautifully and highly original S7 was bought by the current keeper in 2023. The originality is due to it being ‘mothballed’ in 1962 until bought by the seller.
The vendor acquired this very early S7 fully restored it and completed the work. He paid attention to originality, carefully preserving what could be kept and lightly renovating anything else.
The quality of this work has been recognised with awards at both the 2025 Fraserburgh Vintage Car Rally (Best Restored Motorcycle) and the 2025 Glamis Scottish Transport Extravaganza (3rd in Class). The bike comes with comprehensive documentation, including the Sunbeam Owners Fellowship Dating Certificate, all service invoices, original manuals, and documents, letters and newspaper articles about the bike's history and its first owner's medical pioneering.
With approximately 20 miles covered since restoration completion, the new owner will need to provide careful running-in and re-commissioning work, but will then have the opportunity to enjoy a unique Sunbeam with notable provenance and originality.
The vendor says:
“The bike gained an award at the 2025 Fraserburgh Vintage Car Rally in the Class Best Restored Motorcycle. The bike gained an award at the 2025 Glamis Scottish Transport Extravaganza 3rd in Class in Classic Motorcycles 1940 - 1955. Apart from the previous owner mods mentioned, this bike is as close to original as I've seen anywhere. This is a unique Sunbeam, given its provenance and very close to original condition and features. I have many documents, letters, newspaper article about history of this bike and its first owner.”
Key Information
- Mileage: 69,864 miles (correct reading)
- Country of registration: United Kingdom
- Technical inspection status: MOT exempt
- Technical specs: 500cc inline twin, 4-speed manual, 6-volt positive earth system
- Paperwork: Owners Operating Manual, Spares Book, Sunbeam Owners Fellowship Dating Certificate, all service work and parts invoices/receipts, extensive documentation including letters and newspaper articles
The vendor says:
“The bike is an early Sunbeam S7, has a manufacturing date of 2nd April 1947, and a first registration of 18th April 1947. It has matching Frame, Engine, and gearbox numbers S7-179. It is taxed as a Historic Vehicle, and is MOT exempt. The registration number is DDR 925 and is non-transferable. I am the third owner and 2nd registered keeper. I have a Sunbeam Owners Fellowship Dating Certificate. The colour is Black. This bike was 79th delivered from the factory in April 1949, and went to P. Pike & Co in Plymouth, and was bought by the bikes first owner. The bike was returned to the factory to have the engine rubber mounting modification done, and delivered back to the owner in late 1947. The owner, who suffered from heart disease, became the first man in the country to receive a heart pacemaker in 1961. In 1962, through ill health, he mothballed the bike. In 1973, Bob Stewart (who founded Stewart Engineering with his wife Chine), bought the bike from the first owner. He did not register the bike, but intended to restore it, but never did It sat in Stewart Engineering storage until I bought it in 2024. Since 2024, I have completely mechanically and cosmetically restored it. I like how it looks like how it did back in 1962 when it was mothballed. The engine bores have been honed, new rings, valves and seats recut. camshaft lobes profiled. Crank journals polished, new shells. Dizzy, speedo, dynamo professional refurbished and repaired. Seat covers have been replaced. All new control cables and harnesses. New throttle, dip/horn switch and wiring, inverted levers. New correct tank badge and correct silencer. All service work and parts invoices/receipts in the documentation folder.
The Detail
- Engine bores honed with new rings fitted
- Valves and seats recut
- Camshaft lobes profiled
- Crank journals polished with new shells
- Distributor, speedometer and dynamo professionally refurbished and repaired
- New seat covers, control cables, harnesses, throttle, dip/horn switch, wiring and inverted levers fitted
- New correct tank badge and correct silencer fitted
- S8 style pillion saddle fitted early in bike's life, retained as period feature
- Non-standard lower engine snubbers of unknown origin retained as unique feature
- Approximately 20 miles covered since restoration completion
- Won 3rd in Class (Classic Motorcycles 1940-1955) at 2025 Glamis Scottish Transport Extravaganza
- New owner will need to undertake re-commissioning work and carefully run in engine, gearbox and rear drive
- Oils require checking and replacing during running in
- Cylinder head bolts need rechecking and retightening
- Restoration styled to match 1962 appearance when bike was mothballed
The vendor says:
“The bike has been subject to a 'nut and bolt' restoration by me, yet still has the 79-year-old original paint. Nothing has been filled, repainted, powder-coated or re-chromed.
“The previous owner modified the bike to have an S8-style pillion saddle. This mod was done early in the bike's life, so it has been retained as a feature. The lower engine snubbers are not standard, but well-made, and their origin is unknown, but kept as a unique feature.
“Both the Owners' Operating Manual and Spares Book are in the documentation folder for the bike. The bike done about 20 miles since completion of the restoration. The new owner will have to provide some re-commissioning work and carefully run in the engine, gearbox, and rear drive. Oils will have to be checked and replaced, running in, and cylinder head bolts rechecked/retightened. The bike retains the original 6volt positive earth system.”
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