1956 BSA Golden Wings

Now is the time to treat yourself to a flying start to the season. Get a smooth-running, trouble-free BSA Golden Wings and enjoy the best season’s riding you have ever had. Whether you ride to break records or because you like open-air life and the companionship of the road, you will find that mile-stones seem closer together when you ride a BSA Golden Wings.

– 1951 BSA advert

A bicycle manufacturer’s catalogue gave customers ideas about what parts they could have fitted to their new bicycles. The company would fit various combinations of components, categorised by price and style, and create different models accordingly. Although those were the machines that customers could inspect at annual cycle shows or shops around the country, a customer could select any combination of parts when they ordered their new bicycle from the company.

This included paint schemes too. In the case of the bicycle presented here, the cream paintwork option was offered by BSA in 1934 for their Silver Wings model, but not in their catalogue descriptions of 1950s Golden Wings. However …the customer was king …if you wanted cream enamel on your new bicycle, BSA duly obliged.

With the end of rationing in 1955, postwar austerity was easing in Great Britain. Previously only sold for export to boost foreign exchange, British cars and motorcycles were now available to the British public to buy, and there was a new major consumer spending boom. New styles of British cars were introduced, influenced by new ranges of American automobiles dripping in chrome. This influence had a knock-on effect down the line to bicycles too, and manufacturers introduced more colourful models as a result. Observe the three stars either side of the red front mudguards on this bicycle, reminiscent of the port-holes on the side of a Buick Roadmaster. Teddy boys of the day might hanker after a new Ford Zodiac or Triumph 650, but a BSA Golden Wings was still a more likely candidate for commuting to work.

1956 BSA Golden Wings

23″ Frame

27″ Wheels

Solid Fork Ends with Chromium Plated Crown Cover

Bantel ‘Beau Garde’ Red Mudguards

Flanged Continental Hubs

Maes Handlebars with 2″ Forward Extension

G.B Sports Brakes

Cream Paintwork with Ornate Transfer Scheme

This ornate BSA Golden Wings is a rare survivor. It’s fitted with ‘Triple B’ pedals rather than BSA script pedals. The cream paint is obviously original because it retains its original transfers. It’s ready to ride.