An interesting mechanical concept!

The Sunbeam S7 was one of the most technically advanced machines of its age when it was placed on the market in 1946. It was certain to succeed with its inline two-cylinder, fully aluminium engine with top side camshaft, cardan shaft final drive, smooth power output and many other technical sophistications. BSA was probably equally convinced when it became the final owner of the Sunbeam Company in 1943. But the S7 actually flopped, becoming one of the most misunderstood vehicle concepts in British motorcycle industry. It could have been a real contender, but possibly it was ahead of its time. Around 7,600 S7s and 8,500 S8s were built by 1965 – and today they both enjoy a loyal community of fans.

This S7 Deluxe was shipped from England to Austria in the late 90s, as confirmed by an English V5 document dated 1994, a tax tag from 1995 and the individual Austrian approval from 1998. Twelve years later, in 2010, the owner invested in a general overhaul. The frame, engine and gearbox were stripped and reassembled. Since then the Sunbeam has been an integral part of a small but remarkable motorcycle collection. The S7 Deluxe was offered in two standard colours, ‘black’ and ‘mist green’, of which this S7 is graced by the latter, more typical shade. The S7 comes with an original workshop manual and lists of spare parts. Fitted with balloon tyres, the S7 certainly has a modern look and could definitely be used as a template for the currently very fashionable Bobber conversions.

VIN: S74679 Milage: 28.878 mls (read) Displacement: 487 ccm/R2 Power: 24 hp Gearbox: 4-speed Papers: Austrian individual approval