Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tues 27th October from 1pm
Auction: Wed 28th October from 10am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
Registration No: ACY 40E
Frame No: A65SA-8209
MOT: Exempt
A rare BSA A65 variant, produced for one year only
Fewer than 1, 000 miles covered since 2006
In single ownership since 2012
The Birmingham Small Arms factory was established in the Small Heath area of Birmingham in 1861 and as the name suggests manufactured weapons. Around the turn of the century they started making bicycles and progressed onto motorcycles a few years later. BSA went on to become one of the world’s largest producers of motorcycles up until its demise in the early 1970s.
The A65 Star of 1962 marked the beginning of a range of 650cc unit-construction twins which the Spitfire Mk. II joined as a high-performance sports model in 1966 (the original Mk. I Spitfire had been an off-road motorcycle built in 1957). The engine was fed by a pair of Amal 10GP2 carburettors. The Mk. III appeared in 1967, with Amal Concentrics replacing the GP2s, and the fuel tank was enlarged from four to five gallons, among other small changes. The final Spitfires were the Mk. IV models of 1968, which were mildly revised with twin-leading show front brakes and independently adjustable Lucas ignition points.
This very handsome Mk. III Spitfire has an obscure early history, as the V5C records that it was first registered in 1981, but it has been owned and enjoyed by the vendor since 2012. It may have had a restoration at some stage in the past, but it appears primarily as a well preserved and maintained machine. Old MOT results provide a record of virtually continuous but very sparing use back to 2006, when the odometer reading was 5, 584 miles—it now stands at 6, 250. Such a lovely machine as this really deserves to be ridden and shown.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Entry by catalogue and can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people)
