Long lasting LUXURY

It was down and along a dark side street in North London in 1984 where I looked a Sunbeam S7 over properly for the first time, and realised it was a fine looking motorcycle. Parked up outside the rockabilly club I’d just left, the Sunbeam was covered in a fine sweat of light rain, and its paint and chrome shimmered under the sodium street lamps.

I didn’t really know much about them, and preferred the Triumphs and BSAs that were more commonly seen, but was intrigued by the big balloon tyres and single sprung seat. Then the owner – whose name I knew was Ashley – came out dressed in perfect 1950s gear, put the key in, kicked it over, and rode off into the night, looking as cool as hell. To me, and probably this partly explains its attraction to owners like Ashley, the Sunbeam seemed like a British Indian Chief – big all over, with those large mudguards, big headlamp, big tyres, and plenty of presence.

So, when I saw Jon Huson astride his 1951 S7 Deluxe at a local meet, I had to have a chat once he’d parked up. Firstly, Jon’s bike is a beautifully original example in Mist Green, and with its solo cantilever seat that’s specific to the S7, it does have that ‘Chief’ thing going on. Secondly, Jon looked the part in period gear, especially when thrashing the Sunbeam up the Kop Hillclimb, and he reminded