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1953 BSA Golden Flash added to U.K. museum

The National Motor Museum in the U.K. has added to its exhibit The Motorcycle Story, and it’s a true golden oldie. 

A 1953 BSA A10 Golden Flash is attracting admiring glances from Beaulieu visitors due to its glamorous gold paintwork and polished petrol tank — but the jazzy color scheme is not a custom finish and the Golden Flash is exactly as it was when new, over 60 years ago.

The Golden Flash was generously donated to the National Motor Museum by its long-term owner and is in first-class condition, having received careful restoration work over the years. It perfectly showcases this successful post-war motorcycle design at its best.

The National Motor Museum in the U.K. has added a 1953 BSA A100 Golden Flash to its exhibit The Motorcycle Story. Photo courtesy of the National Motor Museum

Living up to its name, this Golden Flash looks stunning with its gold paintwork but not all examples of this popular model were painted this color. Black paintwork was standard, while oddly the gold color option was referred to as “beige” in period BSA advertising. However, the appealing combination of name and color has helped cement the model’s place in history.

Introduced in 1950, the A10 Golden Flash built on the success of the previous BSA A7 but offered greater power and pace to compete with BSA’s arch-rival Triumph. Its upright 646cc twin-cylinder engine was new for the model, producing 35 bhp, which was enough to propel a daring owner up to 100 mph. Not all owners tested the performance limits of their motorcycles, with many preferring to fit practical sidecars to carry luggage or an extra passenger.

The Golden Flash received a series of design tweaks during the 1950s. This 1953 example is fitted with plunger-type suspension on its rear wheel with buyers also able to specify a rigid frame as an alternative, although this was later revised with swinging arm rear suspension.

 

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