Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tues 24th March from 1pm
Auction: Wed 25th March from 9am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
1930 Sunbeam TT Model 90
No Reserve
Registration No: UK 9162
Frame No: E8568
MOT: Exempt
Sister to the machines with which Charlie Dodson won the 1928 and 1929 Senior T. T. s
Only two owners since 1990
Recipient of an exceptionally high-quality restoration
The Road and Race Collection
John Marston, already an experienced bicycle producer, started building Sunbeam motorcycles in Wolverhampton in 1912. J. E. Greenwood was the chief designer at Sunbeamland until 1936, and while he produced a range of designs it was the 500cc singles on which Sunbeam built its excellent reputation. Such machines brought Sunbeam victories in the Senior T. T. of 1920 and 1923, and the introduction of overhead-valve technology later in the decade made the Sunbeam Model 90 the vintage 500 par excellence. Ridden to victory by Charlie Dodson in the Senior TT in 1928 and 1929 (when he set a record speed at 72. 05mph), very little besides a smaller front tyre distinguished the TT machines from standard road-going Model 90s.
This splendid example has formed part of the vendor’s private motorcycle museum since 2005, and has rubbed shoulders with a variety of important, rare and well-provenanced road and racing machines spanning the 1920s to the 1970s. It was one of handful of Sunbeams acquired from the well-respected vintage Sunbeam restorer Bill Page of Great Preston, near Leeds. He had owned it since 1990, and the V5 indicated three former keepers from 1978. After several years on static display, it will now require recommissioning.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
