I love these 1939 BSAs, so much nicer looking than the later war models in appearance but less practical for touring.

What's the history of this one? is it an impressed civilian machine?

Rob

Hi Rob,

The biks is mine. I bought it four years ago at the Wieze bike show in Belgium.

The bike is a Civil impressed ex BEF machine. One of the 20000 that was left behind.
It had its working years in France untill 1978.

This is how it came. Under all the black was kg03, found remains of chrome on the petrol tank and civil striping on the oil tank.

The headlight that was still in original paint is in the display cabinet now

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i do love the look of the early bikes, large fuel tank big headlight, ive been lucky enough to have restored a few..

barry

email (option): fullerbarry@hotmail.co.uk

Came out very nice Nick!! congrats! Still regret not buying it when I saw it for sale that day in Wieze.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@outlook.com

There were quite a number of these civilian spec. early panel tank WM20s with the BEF. Unfortunately, rarely with a WD serial number visible and none that I know with a formation or arm of service serial.

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photo album link sharing

Nice job Nick

So it was left in civilian spec and painted over, did it have a field stand?

Rob

Fantastic photo. The bull seems to be looking longingly at the bike. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Rob,

The civillian impressed bikes where not fitted with fieldstands.
They where indeed build due to civy specs but just painted green.

Nick

email (option): bsawm20@hotmail.com

Thank you Nick

Its a fascinating time capsule machine showing several differences to the Military spec machines of the same period, I suppose if any weren't lost in France Belgium they may have received updates later on?

Rob

So is this a 1940 model year bike made in 1939?,..(Bearing in mind the 1940 model year started in August 39 but bikes for the 1940 year would have been manufactured before that..)...The reason I ask is that I thought the Lucas 1130 rear light was a 1940 only part..or is that incorrect?....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

The factory records (at a quick glance) show KM20s being despatched to the War Office up to 18/9/1939 but the first page of the WM20 ledger has machines despatched 11/9/1939 so there was an overlap - and the photo that I posted shows a KM20 (brake plate speedo drive) but with an MT1130 rear lamp so it might well be one of the September 1939 bikes.

It was quite short-lived as photographic evidence shows a fair number of BEF WM20s fitted with the less stylish but probably more practical MT110 rear lamp from the second batch (of 4000 machines) with the C410**** serial numbers.

I think the MT 1130 was mostly a 1939 thing for BSA, that might have spilled over to 1940. Both my 1939 KC10 and 1940 model WC10 (Despatched in Aug 39) had them. I think for Ariel however it was a 1940 fitment. Ron

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email (option): ronpier@talk21.com