Win a dashcam

The highly-successful 646cc A10 series BSAs that began with the Golden Flash of 1950 underwent several developments during their 13 years of production.

At first available as rigid rear or plunger suspension road bikes, an optional swinging arm rear suspension became available in 1954. The A10 engine, for which an alloy cylinder head became available in 1953 was developed to produce more power for a range of road-going sports versions including the Super Flash, Road Rocket, Super Rocket and Rocket Gold Star.

In 1957, a Rocket Scrambler version of the alloy-head A 10 Super Rocket was produced for the US market and followed from 1958 through to 1963 by the Spitfire Scrambler. BSA Scrambler models in the US also included the Starfire Scrambler and the Gold Star Scrambler, the latter introduced in 1963 using the Gold Star frame. As dedicated off-road machines, they were equipped with a single seat, a small fuel tank, knobbly tyres and straight-through exhaust pipes with no silencers. Although they were not supplied with lights, they were equipped with a generator and regulator so that they could be added for road use and a lighting kit was available from BSA distributors.

This 1960 Spitfire Scrambler was acquired for the NZ Classic Motorcycles collection via a US auction house in January, 2011.