1949 Sunbeam S8

Registration No: KFM626
Frame No: S8421
Engine No: S8408
CC: 500CC
MOT: Exempt

• Shaft drive inline twin
• Winner of the best S8 at 1974 Sunbeam Rally
• 60+ receipts from Stewart Engineering
• Thought to be an early example
• One owner since 1972
• Older restoration, recent work to distributor and fuel tank
• Buff logbook and V5C

Sunbeam Cycles was founded in 1837 and from 1912 began producing motorcycles, initially being taken over by AMC in 1937 and eventually passing into BSAs hands in 1943. Intended as a deluxe alternative to other 500s of the day the unusual inline twin shaft drive S7 model appeared in 1946 distinguished by its balloon tyres, but unfortunately was not without its teething troubles. The more traditional-looking S8 was launched in 1949 incorporating a few engine and chassis modifications to address earlier problems.

This S8 in its distinctive 'Polychromatic Grey' is thought to be an early bike off the production line being supplied to a dealer in Chester on 2nd of June 1949. Owned by the vendor since 1972 when it was first restored it comes with a buff logbook, V5C and over 60 invoices from Stewart Engineering for parts supplied during the rebuild. The bike won the prize for the best S8 at the 1974 Sunbeam Rally and has only covered about 700 miles since then. An older restoration its recently had the distributor rebuilt and the fuel tank sealed with an ethanol-proof sealer. The vendor has recently had the bike running and reports it sounded well with no smoke from the exhaust.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Cunningham
ian.cunningham@handh.co.uk
07415871189