A unique BSA Rocket Gold Star factory prototype, registration 985 FOC, will be sold at the next H&H Classics auction at the National Motorcycle Museum on 30 July for an estimated £35,000 to £40,000.
The motorcycle was built at the BSA factory in Birmingham in January 1962 and was used for the development and evaluation of the Rocket Gold Star.
Copies of the BSA factory despatch records show the bike was first used by “Press Road Test Motorcycle Sport” in Jan 1962, following this the factory replaced the frame. The bike was then used by BSA factory racer Chris Vincent at the TT as his personal transport.
Other despatch entries show Worcester County Constabulary testing the bike for possible police use and Mr G Harding (a BSA Dealer) on the Isle of Man. Finally, the factory sold the bike to Aston Autos in Birmingham as a used bike in Dec 1963.
Mark Bryan, of the H&H Classics sales team, says: “This bike really is unique, literally a one-off prototype! A bike with this sort of provenance really should be in a museum. It’s possibly one of the best looking bikes made by BSA. It is a great piece of history and its link to Chris Vincent makes it even more special.”
In the picture the bike is seen with Chris Vincent, the former motorcycle sidecar road racer who was very successful in short-circuit (tarmac) racing in the 1960s and early 1970s.
The BSA Rocket was bought by the current vendor in 2017 as a basket case, although complete. It had been off the road since 1972. A sympathetic restoration was said to be undertaken using as many of the original parts as possible and any parts deemed beyond repair are included with the bike. Completed in 2018 and subsequently displayed at various shows it is now up for sale and ready to provide a new owner with many years of pleasure.
It comes complete with the original RF60 buff logbook, copies of the factory records, BSA Owners Club dating letter and other related paperwork. It is currently on display at the National Motorcycle Museum prior to sale.