1950 Sunbeam 500cc Motorcycle and Sidecar

The history of Sunbeam can be traced back to one person, John Marston, who by the late 1870s was involved in the manufacture of all manner of household items, eventually branching out into bicycles made under the "Sunbeam" trademark. As with so many similar concerns, Sunbeam experimented with motorised versions of the bicycles and, from 1912 onwards, released their first motorcycle. Marketed as the "Gentleman's Machine", Sunbeam became part of the Associated Motor Cycles Ltd in 1937. Sold to the BSA Group in 1943, production moved to Redditch, Worcestershire and built the S range from 1946 to 1956, one of the more unusual motorcycles offered in the period. Designed by Erling Poppe and the first completely new post-war motorcycle, these featured an in-line 500cc twin cylinder with shaft drive, available as the S7, an improved S7 Deluxe and sporting S8. The S7 Deluxe, introduced in May 1949, benefited from improvements to the forks for better handling while the S8 was a lighter, less well appointed model that did away with the fatter wheels and tyres that were a feature of the S7. Virtually hand built to the highest standards, the Sunbeams lasted until 1956 before production ceased altogether. Today, these legendary bikes hold a special place in the annals of motorcycling history and remain highly collectable.