1926 Sunbeam Model 4, 599cc. Registration number WU 6573 (no...

Hammer

£8,600

1926 Sunbeam Model 4, 599cc. Registration number WU 6573 (non transferrable). Frame number 17824. Engine number 287/20367.
The Wolverhampton based firm of John Marston Ltd. earned fame for their superb bicycles at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. In 1912 their first motorcycle was presented, equipped with a 2 ¾ hp engine designed by Harry Stevens, one of the talented family of Stevens’ who would later found their own company not far from the bicycle production plant Sunbeamland.
Greenwood (who had previously designed the Rover 3 ½ HP engine) altered the Stevens design by moving the magneto to behind the cylinder. In general motorcycle design and manufacture was carried out according to the standards set for the Sunbeam bicycles: elegance, silence in operation, reliability and impeccable finish were the keywords.
Nickel plating on Sunbeams was kept to a minimum, almost all parts were enamelled black. The enamel was of outstanding quality, as witnessed by many vintage Sunbeams still having their first finish. The whole machine followed John Marston’s dictum of the best possible quality allied to the best possible specification.
The model 4 was a more powerful version of the all-purpose Model 3. It was equipped with the 85 x 105.5 mm Model 7 engine. The Model 4 profile in the 1924 catalogue mentions: “It will appeal to those who require an outfit of considerable horse power and yet do not wish to include the refinements incorporated in our 4 ¼ h.p. Model 7.”
By 1932 WU was with Mr J.J. Swingler of Richmond, with a sidecar attached. Some three years later it caught fire and was written off by the Norwich Union Insurance Company. Bought back by the family, his son, J.A. Swingler, was a Rudge specialist. He retained the machine until selling it in 1975 to our vendor who restored it and successfully applied for a re issue of the West Yorkshire registration number in 1993. There is an MOT on file from 2000.
Used and enjoyed over many years by our vendor, it is now being sold by his estate, hopefully the next custodian will get as much pleasure from it as he did. Over the years many period accessories have been added to make a wonderful machine with almost continually history from new.
Sold with the V5C, V5, old MOT letter from Swingler and insurance documents.