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.
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