What have you found in a Barn lately?

The story of the 1962 BSA Goldstar DBD34GS

 

Everyone dreams about and talks about finding the ‘old board tracker’ or the Vincent in a barn, but rarely does it happen. However I own one of those and the entire story is not as romantic as it sounds.

In 1976 I was working in a Kawasaki shop and a gentleman in his 60’s comes in and asked to buy a throttle cable. I asked him what it was for and he said that whatever he got will need to be modified. Again I inquired what it was for, as perhaps I could get at least one end correct. He tells me it’s a 1962 BSA Goldstar. My mind is telling me that this is the good one…the pre-unit one…with the racing history. After confirming that was truly what it was, I told him “If you ever want to sell it, give me a call.”

One day, as I’m coming back into work after a day off, I get a message.  “ Some guy called and wants to sell you his BSA” .  I had forgotten about the guy as it had been a year since he was last in the shop.  But I really didn’t want some leaky old British bike but I’d call out of courtesy.  When I returned his call, it all came back.  I arrange to go see the thing, out in the country, in an old horse barn. Actually it was more of a giant shed, dirt floors, stalls and lots of junk.

When I first saw it I was quite disappointed. I asked if it ran and he said “Runs good”…could have fooled me. One thing about this bike was that it had the 1½ GP carb; the float bowl was not built into the carb and all the mounting hardware was missing. It was only held on with the fuel lines. This was one of those bikes that had a definite starting drill. My brother-in-law used to have one when I was a kid so I knew what the drill was but had never done it. I think he was impressed that I knew it and got it started.

Then I discovered surprise number two. The side stand had no spring to hold it up. I took off around this rutty cow pasture in the dark with the side stand banging.  Every time it starts to run out of fuel I grabbed the float bowl and lift it up so it would run. Craziest test ride I have ever been on, but it did run good…sort of.

Then the negotiations started. He wanted $500, which was way TOO much.  I asked what he was going to spend the cash on? He said he needed a used motorcycle to ride because his wife was sick and she needed the car. I said we had a CB450 at the shop for $500 would he trade? The next day he picked up the Honda (that I bought from the shop for $350). That night I went to his place to get the BSA and as we were loading it I was already having buyer’s remorse. I was thinking “what have you gotten into with this old piece of junk?”

BEFORE Restoration

After it was in the truck he asked if I want the 2 apple boxes with the extra parts in them. Parts???? (Lesson learned here is to ALWAYS ask for the extra parts!) The two boxes had the instruments and mounts, some of the sheet metal and a bunch of brackets.

The parts were worth as much as the bike. It took me 10 years of scrounging to scrape together all the other bits and pieces I needed.  Yet I was in no hurry and not willing to spend much on the project. During my travels, both work and personal, I was always looking for the parts I needed. 

One time, probably in the early ‘80s, I was in a shop in Portland called the Cycle Hub.  The owner, Cliff was a somewhat unique individual. There also happened to be two fellows from England and they were asking about a large Goldstar tank. My ears perked up because I needed one as well at that time.

“Do you have one?” they asked.

”Yep, sure do and still in the box.” Cliff replied

“How much?” they inquired

“$800” he replied…..and I almost choked (Remember I only paid $350 for my bike!)

“Could we see it?” the lads asked

“If I have to go get, it the price will be $1,000” retorted Cliff.

Well that was the end of the discussion and interest in Cliff’s tank.

I found a big Clubman gas tank and took it to England to have it restored. Little did I know the bike I bought was a Clubman and when it was done I had a proper 1962 BSA Goldstar DBD34GS.

The RESTORED Goldstar!

Just one of the many motorcycles that Max has in his own “Barn”!