Description
This motorcycle is Lot 332 - To be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale (The International Classic MotorCycle Show) on 26th & 27th April, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 101 - 147 are to be sold from 14:00 on Saturday 26th April 2025.
Lots 201 - 410 are to be sold from 11:00 on Sunday 27th April 2025.
Public Viewing:
Available 26th & 27th April 2025 from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Stafford County Showground (The International Classic MotorCycle Show).
Lot 332
1936 BSA 750cc Model Y13
Registration no. DPJ 661
Frame no. 541
Engine no. 514
One of the rarest and most sought after of all 1930s BSAs
Present ownership since 1965
Partially restored in the 1980s
Offered in need of recommissioning/ more extensive restoration
During the 1930s BSA concentrated on producing an extensive and varied range of dependable, well-made and competitively priced motorcycles. The majority of these were singles but for the sidecar market BSA offered the Model G 985cc sidevalve v-twin and, for the more sportingly inclined rider, a smaller overhead-valve v-twin, the 499cc Model J. Somewhat surprisingly, given its complexity, the newcomer had originally been developed for the War Office. Predictably, it was rejected by the latter, which tended to favour sidevalve singles for military use, and appeared for the first time in civilian guise in the 1934 range as the J34-11. Typed J35-12 the following year, it was joined by a 750cc version, the Y13, before ceasing production at the end of 1936 as the J12. Although the '500' had gone, the 750cc v-twin continued until the end of the 1938 season. The model featured twin exhausts on the right-hand side to facilitate attachment of a sidecar. Produced for only three years, the handsome Y13 is today one of the rarest and most sought after of all 1930s BSAs.
Our vendor purchased this Y13 in 1965 when he was aged 19 (at which time it was in the 'Sidecar Bicycle' taxation class) and used it for only a couple of occasions before consigning it to storage due to family and work commitments at the time. The machine was subsequently dismantled and kept at the vendor's home. In 1980 he started the restoration but never completed it. In 2007 the machine was reassembled and sent to Newton & Smyl (Ned Smyl) in Belmont, Surrey, for finishing and a complete check over (Ned had the BSA for 4-5 years as it was not considered a priority). Since then the machine has been kept in the owner's garage and is now offered in need of recommissioning and/ or more extensive restoration prior to further use. Sold strictly was viewed, this beautiful BSA Y13 comes with a file containing an old continuation logbook; photocopies of marque-related literature; magazine article; Armour Motor Products catalogue; instruction manual; reproduction spare parts list; current V5C document; and a quantity of restoration invoices dating from the 1980s. Key not required.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
