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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
• Sale Date:
  30 Apr 2017 ~ 2.30pm
• Lot #:
  36
• Lot Description:
  1967 BSA SPITFIRE MK. III SPECIAL
  Frame no: A65SA 4603Engine no: A65SA 4603-Y. This motorcycle will be sold unregistered.
• Notes:
  As the world’s largest producer of motorcycles from the mid 1930s until the 1960s BSA was seemingly invincible, well-respected, wealthy and positioned for future successes in a highly competitive industry. Their era of greatness, being perpetuated by perhaps the seminal model - the 1954 Gold Star, concluded instead with the company going into receivership during the 1970s. Despite the company’s demise the inspirational names of the Gold Star, the A7 and the A10, the unit-construction A65 and the radical 3-cylinder Rocket-3 were all awesome machines of the times. It was common knowledge that BSA Motorcycles’ development was too little, too late and they faulted as their competitors seized market share with higher design and handling superiority. At the same time BSA still managed to build performance bikes in their final years and the desire to own them still lives on. The Spitfire was launched at the Brighton Motorcycle Show in September 1965, based on the earlier BSA Lightning other than the use of higher compression 10.5:1 pistons and twin big-bore Amal GP carburettors with velocity stacks. When it first arrived on the market it was purported to be the fastest standard BSA ever produced and the fastest standard motorcycle tested by Motor Cycle at 123 mph, so much so that the Spitfire was used by the marshals at the 1967 Isle of Man TT races. It was BSAs first bike with 12-volt electrics. In 1967, the racing Amal GP carburettors with open-intakes were replaced by Amal Concentrics. It was developed as a high-performance motorcycle and the company’s answer to Triumph’s range-topping Bonneville sports roadsters. With a claimed 53bhp to draw on, the Spitfire was purportedly as quick in a straight line as the Bonneville. The model was then released from 1966 to 1968 in three marks: Mk. II, Mk. III and Mk. IV. By then the fuel tank had been enlarged to five UK gallons and ultimately, most of the Mark III produced were built for export and had an insignia styled decal applied to the side covers. The Spitfire name had previously been applied to a US-specification street scrambler with a small tank, BSA’s challenge to the Harley-Davidson scramblers of the 1960s. This 650cc, parallel twin, 4-speed machine for auction has been held in its current ownership for some years. It has been ridden sparingly, well maintained and garaged throughout this time. Presenting with matching frame and engine numbers this smart example represents a great opportunity to acquire one of the last of a legendary line of pedigree British motorcycles and it would make an excellent addition to any discerning rider’s collection.
• Estimate:
  A$12,000 - 14,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.