BSA Bantam D1 Restoration

Since the D1 had no battery, creating a new wiring loom wasn't too difficult. The headlight on this Bantam is the only incorrect item. The original headlamp on early D1s had a cable lever on the handle bars. Since there was no battery, the headlamp incorporated an Ever Ready 800 twin cell battery to provide a parking light. The batteries leaked and very quickly corroded the headlamp shell. Because the design was quickly changed to one incorporating a switch on the headlight shell, the originals are impossible to find, so I had to go along with the shell that was on the bike, a later 1950s version.

Bantam two stroke engines are very simple which makes stripping down and restoring quite easy. New piston rings were added and I replaced the cluch pads and springs with parts from C & D Autos.

At last I had a rolling chassis. The number OFF 413 was placed on both sides of the front mudguard as per the original. I had to source a replacement stand which was missing off the bike.

The painter made a superb job off painting the tank. The crean panel area was scaled from an original picture of the early D1 and sports the correct flying BSA logo. Only later did the familiar cockeral Bantam logo appear. The rear number plate assembly was finished off with the tiny rear light which incorporated a reflector.