On Wednesday 30th June 1937, a specially prepared Empire Star 500 ridden by the great Wal Handley achieved a 100mph lap of the Brooklands circuit on its way to a debut race victory and award of the Gold Star that would give BSA's new super sports model its evocative name. It says much for the progress of motorcycle design over the course of the 20th Century's first three decades that a feat once the exclusive preserve of highly tuned race bikes could be achieved on what was essentially a production roadster. The M24 Gold Star was announced as part of the BSA range for 1938. The newcomer differed from its Empire Star progenitor in several respects, most obviously by its alloy cylinder barrel and 'head, cast-in pushrod tunnel, Amal TT carburettor and Elektron gearbox casing. The frame was subtly different too, being made of lighter tubing and devoid of sidecar lugs. All Gold Star engines were guaranteed to produce at least 28bhp. The M24 did not re-emerge post-WW2 and today is the rarest of all Goldies. A letter on file from the late John Gardner formerly Technical Officer of the BSA Gold Star Owners Club, addressed to this Gold Star's former owner, Graham Evans, states: 'as far as I can establish your machine was supplied to Australia in standard trim, the exception being that the petrol tank was black. From the factory records, a total of 15 machines were supplied in 1938, 3 with Silver Tanks, and the other 12 had Black Tanks.' BSA built approximately 280 Gold Stars in 1938, delivering 15 of them to Australia, and made a further 190 in 1939. There are believed to be around 20-30 survivors worldwide. This particular machine was delivered to Finlay Bros, of Melbourne, Victoria on 28th February 1938. In 1944 the Goldie was sold via R A Hallsal, of Shepparton, Victoria, passing in 1972 to Graham Evans, of Bunbury, West Australia, who totally restored it to a very high standard and then used the bike on club rallies. Since its acquisition by the present owner the BSA has been stored in his pool room, but nevertheless has been regularly started. The machine comes with a small file of history, which includes details of the rebuild.
On Wednesday 30th June 1937, a specially prepared Empire Star 500 ridden by the great Wal Handley achieved a 100mph lap of the Brooklands circuit on its way to a debut race victory and award of the Gold Star that would give BSA's new super sports model its evocative name. It says much for the progress of motorcycle design over the course of the 20th Century's first three decades that a feat once the exclusive preserve of highly tuned race bikes could be achieved on what was essentially a production roadster. The M24 Gold Star was announced as part of the BSA range for 1938. The newcomer differed from its Empire Star progenitor in several respects, most obviously by its alloy cylinder barrel and 'head, cast-in pushrod tunnel, Amal TT carburettor and Elektron gearbox casing. The frame was subtly different too, being made of lighter tubing and devoid of sidecar lugs. All Gold Star engines were guaranteed to produce at least 28bhp. The M24 did not re-emerge post-WW2 and today is the rarest of all Goldies. A letter on file from the late John Gardner formerly Technical Officer of the BSA Gold Star Owners Club, addressed to this Gold Star's former owner, Graham Evans, states: 'as far as I can establish your machine was supplied to Australia in standard trim, the exception being that the petrol tank was black. From the factory records, a total of 15 machines were supplied in 1938, 3 with Silver Tanks, and the other 12 had Black Tanks.' BSA built approximately 280 Gold Stars in 1938, delivering 15 of them to Australia, and made a further 190 in 1939. There are believed to be around 20-30 survivors worldwide. This particular machine was delivered to Finlay Bros, of Melbourne, Victoria on 28th February 1938. In 1944 the Goldie was sold via R A Hallsal, of Shepparton, Victoria, passing in 1972 to Graham Evans, of Bunbury, West Australia, who totally restored it to a very high standard and then used the bike on club rallies. Since its acquisition by the present owner the BSA has been stored in his pool room, but nevertheless has been regularly started. The machine comes with a small file of history, which includes details of the rebuild.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
