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
Sunbeam 'high cam' restored to a good standard
A rare model with just a handful known to have survived on the Sunbeam Register
It features 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 1940 (war-time) 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 with only a handful known to the Sunbeam register at the start of 2000, the Sunbeam was completely stripped down to the frame and everything was thoroughly checked cleaned 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, the vendor has taken it to many shows and events until recently. The restoration has held up well and 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, hand and parts books, copies from Bruce Main Smith, and many old tax discs going back to 1947.
