BSA Motorcycles Gold Star Clubman 1953
The origins of the BSA Gold Star models derive from the fact that a gold star lapel badge was awarded to riders who completed a lap of the Brooklands circuit at over 100mph (161kph).
That was achieved by Walter Handley on a BSA 500cc Empire Star single running on alcohol in 1937 and the 1938 model was promptly given the ‘Gold Star’ model name. Following the Second World War, the model name was revived in 1948 on a tuned version of the 350cc B31 and then on its 500cc counterpart, the B34GS. The plunger rear suspension was upgraded to a swinging arm in 1952.
Post-war Gold Stars in both 348cc B32 and 499cc B34 forms featured new engines with alloy cylinder barrel and head, making them 20lbs (9kg) lighter than the earlier cast iron B-series singles. They were available with different compression ratios, camshaft profiles, carburettors and exhaust systems, and two different cylinder heads, one for the Trials version and the other for all other models. They were then run on a dynamometer and the test results with power output were shipped with the bike. Besides the different engine specifications available, Gold Stars could be ordered in Touring, Trials, ISDT, Scrambles, Racing or Clubman trim. The Clubman models were specifically tuned for Clubman TT events, in which they were ridden with such success that their dominance was a factor in the discontinuing of that competition class towards the end of the 1950s.
This 1953 Clubman 500cc model was acquired for the NZ Classic Motorcycles collection from a private vendor in Johnson City, Tennessee, USA, in November, 2008. It came with an extensive file of receipts for replacement parts, many of which were sourced from the UK, compiled by the Tennessee owner and dating from 1999 through to 2007.