1953 BSA A10/Road Rocket, 650cc. Registration number CSL 312...

Estimate

£5,000 - £6,000

1953 BSA A10/Road Rocket, 650cc. Registration number CSL 312 (non transferrable). Frame number BA 752875. Engine number CA10R 8250.
Launched in 1949, the BSA A10 was a development of the A7 500cc and was needed to compete with the Triumph Speed Twin, it was designed by Bert Hopwood. Initially it was available with a rigid frame but the rear plunger was a more popular choice, especially amongst the sidecar buyers. It had hinged rear mudguard and a semi unit gearbox mated to the parallel twin engine until 1954 when a swinging arm rear was introduced along with separate gearbox and engine.
Launched as the top of BSA's range in 1954 the Road Rocket was the first A10 engine with an alloy cylinder head. New "thick flange" cylinders were introduced, it had high compression pistons and a higher lift camshaft with the 356 "sports" profile. These modifications raised the power output to 40 bhp and a top speed of 109 mph.
CSL started life as a 1953 A10 but has had the barrel and cylinder head of a 1959 Road Rocket fitted. The MOT history goes back to 2006 at 14,257 miles, in 2008 it was 52,142, in 2010 it was 3,185 and when our vendor bought it in 2012 it was at 67,184, one presumes different odometers were fitted! Today it is 67,329 as he has rarely used it and it presents very well.
Sold with the V5C and MOT, it will need some recommissioning before use.