The Mist green Sunbeam

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'Jacques' restored this motorcycle in 1979 and was well aware of the Sunbeams good and bad points, having already owned one when he was younger and living in Paris. He knew that this model had a tendancy to overheat, owing to the engines design (Erling Poppe and Gerry Bayliss). This particular fault is incurable and therefore the motor requires close scrutiny. To make things easier he fitted oil pressure and temperature gauges allowing for an average speed of 90/100km/H. This motorcycle has a shaft drive and the engine is of square design with an overhead cam providing a maximum speed of 130km/H.

The design has a 'heavy appearance largely inspired by THe BMW R75 from WW2 and with it's oversized tyres has an appeal and look that is today very much in vogue. Furthermore this motorcycle has a relatively luxurious finish when compared with other machines of the period. This Deluxe model is recognisable from its "Mist" Green finish compared to the standard model that was finished in black.

This particular machine was built in 1954 and is a mix of parts from both the S7 and S8 models. The frame is from the S8 whereas the engine and body panels are from the S7. Purists would have recognised the S8 sprung seat, the S7 seat is canter-levered and the springs are hidden from view.

Photos by Benoit Guerry (southsiders-mc)

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The Lowboy Racer

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This machine was bought in England, build in the 70s from recovered racing spares.

Chassis

the frame, tank and seat comes from a DOMIRACER “ Lowboy” designed on demand by Doug Hele to replace the old Manx Frame, much lower, leaner and lighter than the Manx featherbed (35 pounds less) for the 1961 Tourist Trophy.

The DOMIRACER episode ended in 1962 by the shutdown of the AMC factory in Birmingham and the switch of Doug Hele for Triumph.








“In January 1962, when Norton sold out at Bracebridge Street, Birmingham, Paul DUNSTALL bought most of the experimental Domiracer twin engines and development bits and pieces that had been developed for the factory race team. This included the actual machine raced by Australian Tom Phillips to a magnificent third place in the 1961 Senior TT.”

Soon after Paul Dunstall will build some Lowboy replica frames.

Mick Hemmings built a small serie in 85/90s.

The fork is a shortened Norton Roadholder
front brake is a SEELEY double side single cam
rear wheel hub is a Triumph model

Engine

is a Pre Unit T100/RS from 1957, developped by Edward Turner for the Daytona races, based on the all alloy T100, and fitted with the DELTA (Splayed cylinder head) tuned in 1957 on TRICOR demand.

132 T100/RS plus seven Daytona engines were build and individually tested by Triumph factory.
Inside we find the camshaft E3134 type and the Pushrods “R” types.
Initially fitted with two GP Amal carbs , the output was around 38 Bhp and a maximum
speed at 125mph with a final drive at 23X45

The Triumph DAYTONA project will let place in 1962 to a T100 unit Triumph Daytona model with the arrival of Doug Hele at the Triumph factory.

this brillant engine was also fitted on Formula 500 Cooper racers.

The gearbox is a five speed Triumph and the Magneto a Lucas racing complete the equipment of the extremely pleasant small motorcycle of only 135kg










Brilliant photography by Benoit Guerry for Guerry & Prat images

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