BSA Motorcycles E30/14 And Colonial Sidecar 1930
‘Combinations’ or sidecar bikes were common on the roads when motorcycles were transport for people who could not afford cars.
This bike would have been designed to take Dad to work each work day and also carry the family around at weekends. It is very much an up market motorcycle being a side valve V-twin of 770cc.
Most manufacturers made V-twins between WWI and WWII, many fitted with proprietary engines (mainly from Matchless and JAP), however this machine is made entirely by BSA.
BSA was the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles. To enable it to have control over the quality of components, it preferred to make as many as possible in-house, even down to springs and pistons which are parts other manufacturers would ‘buy in’.
As you can see from its condition this bike is an exceptional unit and appears to have spent little time taking Dad to work, possibly spending most of its life in storage. It is completely original having never been used enough to wear anything out.
Excerpt from the Mid-American web site catalogue when this was offered for sale in 2009.
Rare opportunity to own a find of a life time! The most original motorcycle that the seller is aware of. Found by Hugh Anderson 12 years ago, and it has been in storage since 1933?? Has not been started in five years. This machine has been totally dismantled and refurbished by a professional and still has partially worn original tires. The woodwork on the sidecar is in perfect condition, as is the exhaust system. One family ownership, documentation includes original instruction manual, it has a Lucas magdyno, Lucas magneto, Lucas horn factory guarantee, registration papers dated July 1930, order form, plus further correspondence, original tool kit all in perfect condition.