Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
26th Mar, 2025 9:00
1940 Sunbeam C24S
One of just a handful known
Estimate
£7, 000 - £8, 000
Registration No: GGF 409
Frame No: 1155
MOT: Exempt
Rare Sunbeam 'high cam' restored to a good standard
Just a handful known to have survived on the Sunbeam Register
Matchless-style forks and brake with check springs, Burman gearbox, and high-level exhaust pipe
Running well and used sparingly by the current owner
V5C on file with a host of paperwork and a 1939 spares book
All correct numbers
AMC bought the Sunbeam business in 1937 as a well-established motorcycle manufacturer. Production moved from Wolverhampton to Plumstead. There was so much stock available that it was enough to sustain production in London for more than a year. At the end of 1938 a new line of OHV machines was launched, ranging from a 250cc to a 600cc. The new engine design was of the high camshaft type with the cylinder barrel sunk deep into the large crankcase. It has a large timing cover with a wonderful “Sunbeam” script which contains the chain that drives the magdyno and is tensioned by a Weller tensioner. The brakes were improved, notably to an 8" drum with improved stopping. The models were offered in standard guise and in Sports (S) and Competition (T) form. The B25S had Sports mudguards, upswept exhaust pipe, and a specially tuned engine with a high-compression piston and polished cylinder head and ports. The C24S was the last pre-war Sunbeam design.
This wartime 1940 Sunbeam C24S was purchased by the vendor's father-in-law way back in the early 1970s. Due to commitments, the Sunbeam was left untouched until it was left to the son-in-law, as he was seen as a worthy candidate for the restoration of the C24S and saving it from the scrap man in 1999. The current vendor finally set about the restoration of this very rare model at the start of 2000, with only a handful known to the Sunbeam Register. Completely stripped down to the frame, components were thoroughly checked, cleaned and replaced where necessary. The restoration took several years and attention to the correctness was paramount of this machine, which included a trip to Scotland from the vendor's house of some 500 plus miles. Since the restoration of the Sunbeam, until recently, the vendor had taken it to many shows and events. The restoration has held up, it presents very well and is a good example of the model. It comes complete with a V5C, old photos of when it was found and restored, handbook and parts books, copies from Bruce Main Smith and many old tax discs dating back to 1947.
