![]() ![]() Almost covertly, as the war drifted towards its conclusion, AMC quietly divested itself of the Sunbeam brand, which now became part of BSA in Birmingham in 1943. ![]() ![]() Production of the new line had barely started when Britain once again found itself at war. Pre-war predecessor of the S7, the short-lived Hi Cam Sunbeam (Illustration by Alan Puckett).įor a year or so, little changed in the Sunbeam line up, but then came a completely redesigned model, known as the High Cam, which was not in keeping with the svelte and sporty models of the past. Unlike many of its competitors, Sunbeam saw out the crisis, but in 1936 ICI sold Sunbeam to London-based Matchless, who already owned AJS, to form a new company called Associated Motor Cycles Ltd (AMC). Grand Prix and further TT wins followed, but so did the Depression, and the Sunbeam range was trimmed to just four models. New 350 and 500cc overhead valve engines were immediately fruitful, and the company recruited Graeme Walker (father of Murray) as Competitions Manager and works rider. Under the new ownership, Sunbeam flourished, with competition successes that included Isle of Man TT victories. The company soon had new owners, Noble Industries, which itself later became the giant Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Having survived WW1, Sunbeam was struck a crippling blow when John Marston died in 1918 aged 82, followed less than a year later by his son Roland. The impeccable finish became a signature of subsequent Sunbeams, with deep black enamel finish and genuine gold leaf lettering and lining. A 350cc single with a two-speed countershaft gearbox and multi-plate clutch, the new Sunbeam was a quality item, with a rear-mounted Bosch magneto and eccentric flywheels to achieve crankshaft balance. The original concern continued as a manufacturer of pedal-powered bicycles, uniquely fitted with a fully enclosed oil bath rear chain – a feature carried over to the first Sunbeam motorcycle, the Gentleman’s Motor Bicycle, which appeared in 1912. Subsequent Sunbeam cars were far more elegant, and this side of the business was split to become the Sunbeam Motor Car Company which produced a line of highly acclaimed vehicles. The first powered Sunbeam was a strange looking four-wheeler with a single wheel front and rear and wheels at each side – often described as a ‘sofa on wheels’. Sunbeam itself had a chequered history, beginning in 1899 as the product of John Marston Ltd. Yet the Sunbeam S7 was in in principle at least, exactly what the British motorcycle industry desperately needed to embrace – fresh thinking. On one hand, lithe sporting singles possessed of a healthy turn of speed and sublime handling, and on the other, rather bloated and underpowered. In fact, the pre and post-war offerings were poles apart. Photos: Ray Goulter and Jim Scaysbrook According to definition, a sunbeam is a delicate shaft of light, and while the term ‘delicate’ may well be applied to the pre-WW2 offerings from the Wolverhampton-based company, it is not a descriptive that springs to mind for the in-line twins that appeared post-war following Sunbeam’s takeover by BSA.From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 74 – first published in 2018. ![]()
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