I recently obtained this Sunbeam Bicycle at a bike jumble. This is my second Sunbeam I obtained a Wartime Production one a while back which needs restoration (elsewhere on Bike Forums) but this one is rideable so will not be restored but I will strip and rebuild it replacing any worn bearings (brake blocks too!) so it is in really good riding condition. It is a BSA made Sunbeam and has a BSA 3 Speed Hub but someone has replaced the Trigger Shifter with a Raleigh one at some point. I have sourced a NOS BSA Trigger Shifter to replace the Raleigh. The brakes are the Sunbeam pattern Centre-pull type unique to these bikes and I particularly like the Flat North Road Handlebars. The bike is virtually completely original apart from the Trigger Shifter, Handlebar Grips, and perhaps the pedals (not sure about these) . It has a Lucas Cyclometer with 2,695 miles on it. The front forks are partially chromed so that apart from the BSA 3 Speed it is almost identical to the Wayfarer in the AMC Sunbeam 1939 Brochure, so it seems the only change made by BSA initially was to use their own 3 Speed Hub. By the time of the 1951 Catalogue the Wayfarer was modified to have Straight Handlebars and the saddle changed from Brooks to the Terry Tri Spring Saddle but otherwise still the same bicycle.

You can see other post regarding this rebuild at: Sunbeam W3 Wayfarer No S48571 1949/50 Part 2 & Sunbeam W3 Wayfarer No S48571 1949/50 Part 3



General view of bike, drive side.


General view of bike, non drive side.


Front Centre-pull Brake.


Front Forks with Lucas Cyclometer.


Flat North Road Handlebars.


Iconic Sunbeam 'Little Oil Bath" Chaincase. Unique to Sunbeams, the Chain Case forms the drive side chain stay, there is no chain stay tube extending to the rear drop out, thus the chain case is a structural part of the frame.


Original Brake Levers.


Original Terry Extra Coil Saddle. (see 1951 catalogue extract below).


Sunbeam 1939 Catalogue Reference. From VCC Library.


Sunbeam 1951 Catalogue Reference. From VCC Library.