Kick, kick, kick… no, not a reluctant starter but me for not paying attention to this beautiful 1937 BSA Empire Star which came up for auction during H&H’s sale at the National Motorcycle Museum recently.
I’d actually seen this very bike during a visit to the NMM for the annual general meeting of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club a few days earlier. Many of the classic motorcycles coming up for sale were already parked in the museum’s entrance and cafe, and this lovely green BSA stood out.
The BSA Empire Star stands out full stop. It’s not just a handsome pre-war single, the Empire Star was a really important motorcycle and if WWII hadn’t broken out when it did, it would have gone on to greater things.
By the mid-1930s, BSA was already a major force, but the Empire Star marked a shift. Designed by the brilliant Val Page, it evolved from the dependable Blue Star into something sharper, faster, and altogether more ambitious. Marketed as ‘The Masterpiece of the Industry’, it wasn’t just a new model. It was a statement of intent.
The 1937 machine we’re talking about here is the 350cc variant, often considered the sweet spot of the range. Not as headline-grabbing as the 500, perhaps, but more usable, more balanced, and imbued with that long-stroke, overhead-valve character that defines pre-war British singles. You don’t ride one so much as you conduct it: a steady, deliberate thump, each combustion event a small but meaningful occasion.
Technically, the Empire Star was properly modern. Dry-sump lubrication improved reliability, a foot-change gearbox made it feel progressive, and the revised engine design laid the groundwork for BSA’s post-war singles. In other words, this wasn’t just evolution — it was the beginning of a bloodline.
And then there’s the racing story.
Because while this 350cc machine is a road-going example, the Empire Star name became immortal thanks to its 500cc sibling. In 1937, Wal Handley lapped Brooklands at over 107mph, earning a Gold Star badge and giving birth to one of the most revered names in motorcycling. Without the Empire Star, there is no Gold Star, ‘Goldie’.
This particular example, registration EGY 454, carries with it the sort of provenance enthusiasts dream of. It spent decades in the care of noted collector Tony East, part of the A.R.E. Motorcycle Collection on the Isle of Man from 1988 until 2023, and was restored by East himself in 1998.
Condition matters. The auctioneers described it as “handsomely preserved and working well,” and if you look closely at the photos you can see it’s immaculate. It also comes with the reassuring paper trail including V5C and restoration invoices.
And yes, it sold for £5,750 including premium. Which, when you consider what it represents, feels almost suspiciously reasonable.
