1971 BSA A75 Rocket 3 Mk2
From the Keith Mason collection

Registration No: FMW 621J
Frame No: A75 RGE00733
MOT: Exempt

• Matching numbers Mk2 Rocket 3
• Excellent authentic restoration
• Supplied with a current V5C

A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, Keith Mason started working in his local bike shop at the age of 15 before eventually branching out on his own a few years later. From humble beginnings selling secondhand bikes from a small shop, Keith built up the Moto GB empire to become one of the biggest motorcycle retailers and importers in the UK. The group has now grown to include 15 retail shops and is responsible for importing 9 different brands, also supplying many independent dealers, including QJ Motor, Voge, Lambretta, FB Mondial, Morbidelli, SYM and Hero. Keith sadly passed away in 2023, but in recent years he had put together a fantastic collection of his favourite classic bikes, ranging from a humble Honda Express to a beautiful Egli Vincent, documenting his lifetime in the trade. We are pleased to offer all 31 bikes from this collection in our March sale.

The Birmingham Small Arms factory was established in the Small Heath area of Birmingham in 1861 and, as the name suggests, initially manufactured weapons. Around the turn of the century they started producing bicycles and progressed onto motorcycles a few years later. BSA went on to become one of the world's largest producers of motorcycles until its demise in the early 1970s. Their last new model was the 750cc 3-cylinder Rocket 3 launched in 1969 together with Triumph's similar Trident. The bikes in race trim dominated the early days of Formula 750, with John Cooper famously beating Agostini's MV Agusta in the 1971 race of the Year. Only around 5900 Rockets were manufactured between 1969 and 1972. The accompanying dating letter from the TR3OC says this Mk2 model was built in the Small Heath factory on the 14th June 1971, and dispatched to BSA Los Angeles, USA on the 15th. After the mixed reception to the Ogle Design of the first Rocket 3s, a more traditional BSA look was adopted, giving a lighter, leaner, more elegant style with a smaller tank, revised mudguards and simpler side panels, complemented by tapered silencers. A timeless classic in Etruscan Bronze and Dove Grey, it was repatriated and registered with DVLA in 2017. This matching numbers Rocket 3 been tastefully and authentically restored and would grace any collection. This machine is being sold as a collector’s item, part of Keith Mason's stunning private collection of Vintage and Classic machines that have all been dry stored for several years and will require recommissioning before use. It will be supplied with a current V5C.

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