Beschreibung:

On Wednesday 30th June 1937, a specially prepared Empire Star 500 ridden by the great Wal Handley achieved a 100mph lap of the Brooklands circuit on its way to a debut race victory and award of the Gold Star that would give BSA’s new super sports model its evocative name. Possibly the most successful production racing motorcycle ever, the post-war Gold Star formed the mainstay of clubman’s racing in the 1950s. In fact, it was the model’s domination of the Isle of Man Clubman’s TT which led to the event being dropped after Gold Star rider Bernard Codd’s 1956 Senior/Junior double victory. While its trials and scrambles derivatives demonstrated the design’s versatility by chalking up an equally impressive record in off-road competition, for the majority of enthusiasts the DBD34 in Clubman’s trim is the epitome of the ‘Goldie’. The DBD, the ultimate road-going 500 Gold Star, appeared in 1956 when the famous RRT2 close-ratio gearbox and 190mm front brake became standard equipment. From then on BSA’s much-loved sporting single changed little until its much lamented demise in 1963. We are advised that early in its life this 500cc Gold Star was exported to Sweden, where it was used for racing, and re-imported into the UK in April 1954. Incorporating a short-stroke conversion by Geoff Monty, it is presented in full ‘Clubman’s’ trim with Amal TT carburettor, close-ratio gearbox, rev counter and rear-set footrests, while the electrical system has been converted to 12 volts. The machine was restored in the 1980s and last taxed for the road in 1993. Purchased by the current owner in May 2003, it has been kept as part of his private collection and was last MoT’d in 2004. Offered with Swansea V5 registration document.