Description
1934 (W35-8) BSA Blue Star 500cc
As the thirties progressed, BSA’s reputation as a maker of excellent machines blossomed. The most renowned of their machines in the ’35 range were their middle-weight o. h. v. models, especially the favoured Blue Stars.
This is of the sporty 499 cc W 35-8 model. Their specification included a high compression aluminium alloy piston, special cams, upswept exhaust pipes and an Amal pump carburettor. The 499 cc model has bore x stroke of 85 x 88 mm and the oil sump and crankcase are cast in one unit. There is a four-speed foot-controlled gearbox on board. Other features are flexibly mounted handlebars and tank instrument panel with amp gauge, inspection light, switch and oil pressure gauge.
The Blue Star became known for its reliability and handling, and led to the development of the “Gold Star”. It was known as the "sea beezer" and it was BSA’s fifth best seller.
This BSA Blue Star comes with lots of history, with photographs and documentation of this beautiful restoration project going back around 40 years. It also comes with paperwork and registration history, an old Pitman’s BSA Manual, prints of the old BSA and Lucas Instruction Manuals. There is also the BSA Owners Club dating certificate. It has 2 previous owners according to the V5C, and one of those must be my father.
The frame number is E5 507, and correspondence from VMCC state this is a W35-8 and was despatched on 29th October 1934.
The engine number, E8 795, is from a W35-8 despatched 20th March 1935.
The bike has a brand new restored tank and has been sitting without the tank on for the last few years, as my father unfortunately never got around to installing it. I don’t know what bolts I need to mount the tank properly and install a breather, so I’ve left the tank clean and unused. I got the bike running using a makeshift orange juice bottle tank as seen in the video, and I installed the tank loosely for photos.
The bike also comes with 2 big crates of spares. Many of them I assume are the original parts. I have photos of each individual piece and part in the crates which I can send on request. The spares include:
- A spare engine (previously fitted to the bike, it has the numbers Z12 1331 which indicate this is from a 1932 W32-7)
- 2 spare tanks (3 in total) one spare is brand new, and one of these must be the original tank, in an unrestored state.
- 2 x tool boxes
- Cams
- Cam followers
- Oil pump
- Timing Cog
- Gear box
- Assorted clutch parts
- Rear mudguard
- Frame parts
- Seat frame
- Crank case cover
- Knee pads
- Other parts and fittings as seen in photos
The bike was not difficult to start after being sat for a few years, and surprisingly had not lost much oil at all. Feel free to get in touch to come and view it.
