1956 Other Makes Sunbeam S8

S8

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From the private collection of Ewan McGregor 1956 Sunbeam 500cc S8 Engine Number: S8 13931 Movie fans will know Ewan McGregor from his roles in 50-plus films, including a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars series and Christian in the musical Moulin Rouge. But McGregor, a consummate motorcyclist may be more impressive to us with his riding résumé, which includes the travel documentaries Long Way Round and Long Way Down, in which he and longtime riding mate Charley Boorman circumvent the globe on a couple of BMW adventure-tourers. His ever-changing collection of motorcycles is wide-ranging, with everything from track bikes to scooters and everything in between. Now, in an attempt to “thin the herd”, a selection from this very discerning of collections is available for sale. See my “other items for sale” for details. The Sunbeam inline twin, introduced in 1947, was marketed a luxury tourer inspired by the pre-war BMW. Designed by Erling Poppe, it was of advanced specification with overhead-camshaft engine, shaft drive, plunger rear suspension, and balloon tires. The clutch housing and four-speed gearbox bolted directly to the back of the engine, which was rubber mounted in the duplex loop frame, an innovation that required a flexible joint in the exhaust system ahead of the silencer. A deliberately more conventional, and also lighter and cheaper, S8 version was introduced in 1949. The S8's front fork and 7" brake were now standard BSA components, and there were numerous other changes made in the interests of rationalization. The gentlemanly S7 and S8 remained in production until 1957. The bike offered here, a 500cc S8 of 1956 vintage, is in excellent mechanical condition, starting easily, idling smoothly and running well. It shifts perfectly with a good clutch and brakes, suspension and all electrical systems work exactly as they should. It is the most smooth and comfortable ride. A true gentleman’s tourer. Cosmetically, the bike is in excellent condition, having been shown at, among others, the very prestigious Greystone Mansion Concours in Beverly Hills. The original specification Mist Green paint is in excellent condition, the seat is near-perfect, and all other surfaces present well with blemishes consistent with age. Little is known of the restoration, but it is obviously a very high-quality job, holding up exceptionally well. There is some pitting to the chrome surfaces, so I would suggest the restoration is quite a few years old, but that’s an easy fix to bring it to concours condition again.