Model Range
1940 was the last year that Sunbeams were produced by AMC, following
their take-over of Wolverhampton's John Marston Ltd in 1937. AMC's wartime
production concentrated on other models in the Matchless range, and in 1943
the Sunbeam name itself was sold to BSA. 1940 marks the end of the lineage
of the John Marston motor cycle that first appeared in 1912.
Ten models are advertised for the year. Amongst them is a
single side-valve machine - the 598cc Lion, the 492cc model having been
dropped. Also dropped were the 246cc over-head valve sports model and the
larger capacity competition machines.
The over-head valve engines are the AMC-designed 'high
camshaft' type with large timing chest. The over-head valve machines include
a 246cc model C23; 347cc machines in both standard (model C24) and sports
(model C24S) guise; 498cc machines in standard (model C25) and sports (model
C25S) guise; and a 598cc Model C28.
Three over-head valve machines were available with
sprung rear frames: model CH24 (347cc), model CH25 (498cc) and model CH28
(598cc).
Cycle parts
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Engine and gearbox
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Sources:
* Robert Cordon Champ, 1980, 'The Sunbeam Motorcycle'. Haynes Publishing.
* Roy Bacon, 1986, 'British Motorcycles of the 30's'. Osprey Publishing.
* The Motor Cycle, February 1st, 1940. |