Lot 429: 1933 Sunbeam 492cc Model 6 Lion Motorcycle Combination

Sunbeam’s famous ‘longstroke’ 500cc sidevalve engine first appeared at the 1921, this remarkable engine remaining in production right up until WW2. A version of it powered the new-for-1931 Model 6 Lion. Introduced in the summer of 1930, the revamped Lion replaced the old Model 6 and featured the innovations - for Sunbeam - of a chromium-plated fuel tank and Webb-pattern girder forks. A 598cc Model 7 Lion joined the range the following year and the two sidevalve workhorses continued in production - surviving Sunbeam’s 1937 sale to AMC, relocation of production to Plumstead and the axing of the rest of the traditional models - until the outbreak of WW2. This Sunbeam Lion motorcycle combination has been on display within a private collection for the past 24 years and thus will require careful re-commissioning and the customary safety checks before returning to the road. The machine is offered with old-style logbook and Swansea V5 registration document.