Vehicle Description
1963 BSA Rocket Gold Star Model A10
VIN: DA10 605
Engine: DA10R7983
Fully restored by noted motorcycle restorer A.J. Lewis
Original Lyta aluminum alloy fuel tank
Rare black paint finish configuration
BSA instruction manual
Highly sought after, show-quality motorcycle
Timeless styling, incredible rarity and outstanding performance
created a tour-de-force motorcycle that would be revered for years
to come: the BSA Rocket Gold Star A10.
The Rocket Gold Star was a BSA motorcycle that was included in the
final range of A10 twins, using a tuned A10 Super Rocket engine in
the double-downtube Gold Star frame. Launched in 1962, the total
production for the BSA Rocket Gold Star was 1,584 examples, with
272 of them were off-road scramblers. While most of these were
painted red, only a few were painted black and silver making these
non-red bikes extremely rare indeed. With the later 9:1 compression
Super Rocket engine, a Spitfire camshaft and an Amal Monobloc
carburetor was able to produce a total of 45 horsepower as
standard. Options like siamesed exhaust pipes and a close-ratio
RRT2 gearbox could increase power to 50 horsepower, while adding
30% to the price. Production for the Rocket Gold Star ceased in
1963 due to the development of a new unit construction successors,
designated as A65 in the 650cc capacity.
A.J. Lewis was a noted restorer and marquee expert on Ariel
motorcycles but was a lover of all-things two wheeled. Working for
Johnson Motors in Pasadena, California, the only Triumph and Ariel
dealer and distributor from 1940 on, Lewis gained an incredible
wealth of knowledge on all facets of the motorcycle business.
Working for them in the late 40's, he became an expert at building
race engines. Eventually opening his own shops for building
motorcycles, selling parts and offering service, A.J. became the
defacto Ariel expert. Later purchasing a vast collection of spare
parts from Johnson Motors, he had the largest supply of Ariel
motorcycles and parts to be found anywhere, including factory
records, parts books and other items which were unavailable
anywhere else.
While A.J Lewis was an Ariel motorcycle expert, he still loved many
other motorcycles. With an attention to detail that was due to in
part by building racing engines, he often restored his own
motorcycles to the best degree. This BSA Rocket Gold Star, restored
to show-quality, is one of those bikes. All surfaces and mechanical
components were addressed, which produced one of the best looking
BSA Rocket Gold Stars to ever come through Canepa's doors. With its
original Lyta aluminum-alloy fuel tank, stunning mechanicals and
paintwork in rare BSA black, this Rocket Gold Star is one of the
rare non-Ariel's restored with A.J.'s expert touch.
Bill Maxwell, the first owner of the BSA Rocket after the
restoration, was able to purchase the bike after the 1996-1997
restoration. The bike would then appear at a motorcycle swap meet
in Tulare, California. Gale Searing, who was interested in adding a
BSA Rocket Gold Star, was enamored by the bike's history with A.J.
Lewis and purchased the bike in the early 2000s. He would keep the
bike until 2006 where he would then transfer the bike to his son,
also named Gale Searing. The Searing family would keep the bike
until September of 2015 when they sold the bike to a collector in
Colorado.
Canepa acquired the BSA in late 2015 as part of a 5-motorcycle
collection, all of which were restored by A.J. Lewis. Once it
arrived, it was immediately apparent the quality of the restoration
and the care that was given to it since it was restored. The
original Lyta aluminum-allow fuel tank was shining in the sun,
contrasting against the excellent black paint finish of the bike.
The stunning caf� racer only needed a light cleaning by hand from
Canepa's expert detail technicians. Presenting as though its
restoration was just completed, this 1963 BSA Rocket Gold Star A10
is sure to put a smile on any owner's face, whether from being on
the show lawn or tripping down to their favorite caf� on a Saturday
morning.
