Highlights
- A10 Golden Flash fitted with a later A10 Super Rocket Engine
- Exhibited in the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum until May 2022
- Restored 2004-2014 in US-market specification and colour scheme
The Appeal
Many people would consider the 1950s to have been the heyday of the British motorcycle industry, and what could be more representative of it than BSA, which was by then one of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturers?
Post-war production regularly exceeded 50,000 bikes per year, and Birmingham Small Arms products found favour with everyone from ton-up boys to the Royal Mail.
While it was Triumph which, more than any other manufacturer, sought to dominate the American market, BSA fancied a slice of the Stateside sales, too, and to that end it brought out a line of big 650cc twins, direct rivals to the Triumph Tiger and Thunderbird and ideally suited to the long, straight American roads.
Here we have an amalgamation of two of BSA's most valiant efforts, manifested in this combination of a 1956 A10 Golden Flash and a 1961 A10 Super Rocket Engine.
This lovely motorcycle was treated to a restoration between 2004 and 2014, shortly after which it joined the large classic car and motorcycle collection at the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum.
The reading of two miles on the odometer would suggest that it has not really been ridden at all since its restoration, so with a bit of fresh fuel and a service, you'll be getting a great bike to use and enjoy.
The History and Paperwork
- Frame first registered in Britain in June 1956
- In single ownership from 1956 to 2014, according to the V5
- Restored and rebuilt to American specification, in an American colour scheme, from 2004 to 2015
- Purchased by a prominent collector in December 2015
- Exhibited at the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum in Calne, Wiltshire, until 2022
- Paperwork includes the current V5 and the Atwell-Wilson exhibit sheet
The BSA Owners Club have informed us that the frame 'EA7.7536', was originally an A10 Golden Flash model shipped from BSA to Japan in October 1956. The engine 'DA10R.6162', was shipped from BSA as an A10 Super Rocket to Australia in October 1961. (In a 'GA7' prefix frame).
The Condition
- Eight-year-old restoration still presents very well
- Chrome still possesses a mirror-like shine
- Seat in like-new condition
Resplendent in its vibrant colour scheme of metallic red with a half-chrome tank – a combination intended to appeal to American buyers – this BSA looks fantastic and is guaranteed to turn heads wherever it goes.
Having possibly only been ridden for two miles since its restoration, spending all its time as an exhibit in a private collection and a museum, it has had very little chance to deteriorate, hence it still looks really good.
The paintwork is really smart and we were unable to detect any blemishes or signs of wear.
Close inspection of the chrome reveals a very subtle patina, but it really is not obvious until you examine it closely and, even then, it does not hamper the appearance of the bike. The mudguards especially look to be in very good order, and are sure to polish up very well.
The wheels and tyres are all in fine order, and the seat is in such good condition it could easily be mistaken for new. Considering that it was almost certainly reupholstered during the restoration and has subsequently only been ridden for two miles, we would consider it to still be virtually new.
The only cosmetic blemishes we could identify concern the decals, some of which have been worn away in places, but they are not badly affected and, if you really wanted the bike to be perfect in that regard, it would be neither difficult nor expensive to source some new items.
The Mechanics
- Potent 650cc parallel twin
- Alloy head, 8.5:1 compression pistons and high-lift camshaft
- Only two miles covered, so still to be run in!
A big 650 twin such as that fitted to the Super Rocket made quite a statement back in the mid-1950s.
While your dad may have been quite happy with his sensible Francis-Barnett Falcon, thank you very much, and countless hordes of impoverished students had to be content with scooting around on Bantams, the sound and speed of BSA's big 650s suggested both rebellion and prosperity.
With a bike like this, you were king of the road, the envy of your motorcycle club or your local coffee bar.
While we haven’t seen this bike start, it is highly likely that the engine has barely been run since being rebuilt and it will not have deteriorated during its time as a museum exhibit, so we don’t see why it should take more than some new fuel and a fresh service to get it up and running.
It will, of course, need a bit of running in, but those first 500 miles will give you a good opportunity to familiarise yourself with the bike.
While it has not been subjected to an MOT since being restored, the work has obviously all been completed to a high standard so we don’t imagine that any serious problems would arise if it were to be tested.
Even so, we do, of course, recommend that the buyer undertake some precautionary checks and satisfy themselves as to its roadworthiness, but we’ve no doubts that this one is in very good order.
Summary
This example is a fantastic survivor, presented in American specification although it was built for the British market.
Restored to a very high standard and offered for sale after a time as a museum exhibit, a quick service and a bit of running-in should be all that’s needed to make this a delightful, usable bike for summer.
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