Source: Bike Bound
[[{“value”:”1 of 298: 1939 BSA M24 Gold Star…
In 1937, racer Wal Handley lapped the historic Brooklands circuit at over 100 mph (102.27 mph to be exact) on a highly-modified BSA Empire Star sporting an experimental aluminum cylinder and head. Not only did Handley win his clubman’s race and earn the circuit’s coveted “Gold Star” badge, but he caused quite the stir in the British motoring industry…and inspired BSA to immediate action.
“This caused about as much comment as a stock Electra Glide winning the San Jose Mile and so BSA set designer Val Page to update the iron-barrel M23 Empire Star.” –Cycle World
The result of Page’s work would be the alloy-barreled M24, the first of the legendary Gold Star line.
“[Handley’s victory] gave BSA the name for a new super sports model incorporating the modifications by the factory’s experimental department for the race. This M24 premium sports machine was hand-built in the competition department and was as fast as any other single-cylinder road-legal racer on the market.” –Mecum
The M24 would be produced for two years: 1938 (JM24) and 1939 (KM24). The bikes featured 496cc overhead-valve pushrod engines of a slightly long-stroke nature (82x94mm bore/stroke), with alloy heads and cylinders. They had no sidecar lugs on the frames, and the forks were made of lightweight Reynolds 531 tubing.
The cast “Elektron” magnesium gearbox of the ’38 model tended to crack and the timing shafts ran directly in the timing cover, leading to excessive wear. So the ’39 received an aluminum gearbox case and completely redesigned crank and crankcase, with timing gears now running on fixed shafts supported by a steel outrigger plate — a design that would become a signature of the Gold Star line until 1962.
BSA claimed an approximate top speed of 90 mph, but with the silencer removed, the M24 Gold Star was said to be capable of hitting 100 mph, the mighty “ton.” At 82 pounds 10 shillings for the competition model, the M24 was a prize of the British motorcycling industry:
“It was a ‘ton-up’ motorcycle, perfect for the Promenade Percys who paraded on seafront resorts with shiny machines, as the precursors of the Rockers of the 1950s.” -Mecum
Unfortunately, the outset of World War II halted production of the M24, as the BSA factory had to begin retooling for wartime production. Just 562 M24 Gold Stars would be built, 266 in 1938 and 298 in 1939. Today, around 100 survivors are listed on bsa-m24.co.uk.
The “Brooklands Replica” 1939 BSA M24 you see here is one of those 298 models built, restored by a BSA specialist in England and crossing the Mecum auction block this week in Monterey, California. We’re told that much attention was paid to getting the details right on this one-year-only model.
“It’s a runner, includes a certificate from the BSA Owner’s Club and is a registered competition motorcycle with matching engine and frame numbers. If you’re looking for the best prewar Gold Star around, look no further.” -Mecum
The bike is expected to bring a price of $30-35,000, and this one is sure keep growing in value over the years. Interested parties can view the full listing and register to bid on the Mecum website.
Detail Gallery
Follow Mecum Auctions
Web: www.mecum.com/motorcycles
Instagram: @mecum_auctions
Facebook: Mecum Auctions
Previous Mecum Features
Brooklands Replica: BSA M24 Gold Star – 1 of 298: 1939 BSA M24 Gold Star… In 1937, racer Wal Handley lapped the historic Brooklands circuit at over 100 mph (102.27 mph to be exact) on a highly-modified BSA Empire Star sporting an […] First American Four-Cylinder: 1912 Pierce Four – Mecum’s 2024 Monterey auction is this week, and while the event is primarily focused on cars and trucks, some 60-70 motorcycles will be crossing the auction block. One of the rarest and most interesting machines […] Hell Rider: A Daredevil’s 1932 Harley-Davidson VL! – The ’32 Harley-Davidson VL of Jimmy “Daredevil” Washburn… The Monterey 2024 edition of Mecum Auctions is fast approaching, and that means some rare and unique motorcycles will soon be crossing the auction block. One of […] National Motorcycle Museum: Top 10 Auction Bikes – 10 Collector-Grade Bikes from the John Parham Estate Collection… Last week, we featured the Indian Scout Wall of Death bike from the collection of John Parham, the late founder of mail-order giant J&P Cycles. John […] Wall of Death Bike: 1931 Indian 101 Scout – In 1975, John Parham opened his first motorcycle shop in Anamosa, Iowa. Later he started J. Parham Enterprises with his wife, Jill. That company would become known as J & P Cycles, one of the […] Skoal Bandit Special: ’86 Suzuki GSX-R1100 Restomod – Big-Bore 80s Superbike from Drew Halliday… These days, we’re seeing a rise in the popularity of so-called “Youngtimer” superbikes from the late 1980s and 1990s. What’s a Youngtimer motorcycle? These are generally bikes that are […] Vintage Thunder: Harley-Davidson XR1000 BOTT Racer – Battle of the Twins Veteran: 1983 Harley-Davidson XR1000 Race Special… Launched in 1983, the Harley-Davidson XR1000 was conceived as a road-going version of the mighty XR750 — the most successful race bike in the history […] Mecum Las Vegas 2023: Top 10 Motorcycles! – Last week was the 32nd annual Mecum Vintage & Antique Motorcycle Auction in Las Vegas, and it was quite the show. North of 1800 motorcycles crossed the auction block, including bikes from 15+ storied private […] Sold for $935,000: 1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank! – This past week, January 24-28, was the 32nd annual Mecum “Vintage & Antique Motorcycle Auction” in Las Vegas, held at the South Point Hotel & Casino. Nearly 2000 motorcycles crossed the auction block, including bikes […] Quarter Miler: ’52 Vincent Rapide Drag Bike! – Vincent drag bike with an engine by Hall of Famer Marty Dickerson! The origin story of the Vincent V-twin is legendary. Designer Phil Irving, while working at his office in Stevenage in 1936, noticed two […] Factory Experimental Board Tracker: 1924 Harley JDCA/B – An alcohol-fueled “Murderdrome Missile”… In their first decade of operation, Harley-Davidson eschewed factory-backed racing efforts in favor of focusing on reliable motorcycles for the public. By 1914, however, they’d changed their minds, formed a factory […] Salt Shaker VII: Honda Double 450 Salt Racer – We’ve been showcasing the builds from the Bob Guynes Collection recently sold at the 2022 Mecum Las Vegas motorcycle auction. Born in 1937, Boris “Bob” Guynes was an Army veteran, racer, and fabricator who created […] World’s Fastest Hawks: Honda Twin 305 Salt Racer – “Two For the Salt,” a Double Honda 305 Land-Speed Racer… We’ve been running a series on the builds of the late Boris “Bob” Guynes, a racer and fabricator whose machines include the twin 750 “Anti-Christ” […] The Hog Catcher: Supercharged Honda CB500 Salt Racer – 150-mph CB500 Supercharged, NOS-injected Salt Racer… Recently we featured the Double 750 “Anti-Christ” from the late Boris “Bob” Guynes, a master fabricator and racer who created some truly incredible salt flat racers. Today, we’re excited […] Barn Find: 1970 Sachs Boondocker Enduro – In 1894, Ernst Sachs began making bicycle parts in his home country of Germany, mainly hubs and bearings. A decade later, the company made the natural leap into motorcycles, focusing mostly on the production of […”}]]
