Welcome to BSA Revival: One Bolt at a Time
A little bit about how this project came about…
Back in 2010, I inherited a Fordson Major tractor that once belonged to my grandad. It was a bit rough around the edges, but I’d always planned to restore it. As often happens, life got in the way — I ended up spending several years living and working in Australia.
I have fond memories of my grandad tinkering with all things mechanical, with me “helping” (mostly getting in the way!). Those times taught me a great deal about practical skills and sparked my lifelong interest in engineering.
Unfortunately, due to losing storage space, I had to sell the tractor — something I really didn’t want to do. I decided I’d use the money from that sale to fund a smaller, more manageable restoration project. My grandad often told stories about his motorbikes, particularly his BSA Bantam, so that became my inspiration.
I eventually found a Bantam listed on the BSA Bantam Owners Club website — a project someone else had started and then abandoned. The bike had been completely disassembled, though the frame had already been powder coated. I agreed a price with the seller and, two days later, made the 80-mile journey from Kent to Reading to collect several boxes full of Bantam parts.
A little bit about the bike…
The bike is a 1957 BSA Bantam D3, manufactured by BSA Motorcycles Ltd at Armoury Road, Birmingham. It left the factory on the 16th October 1957 and was sent to a dealer in Weston-Super-Mare where it was sold on 3rd December 1957. It is a 6 volt battery model and surprisingly still has matching engine and frame numbers.
Why a D3…
I wasn’t specifically looking for a D3 — any early Bantam such as a D1 or D5 would have done! My grandad owned an early Bantam, although I sadly don’t know exactly which model he had.
A little bit about me…
I’m 32, live in Kent, and work for the NHS. I’ve built up a well-equipped workshop in a standard single garage. I inherited a good selection of hand tools, and over the years I’ve added a small milling machine and lathe as my engineering interests have grown.
Working for the NHS means long hours, but my rota gives me some decent stretches of time off — which I plan to put to good use on the Bantam restoration.
This blog is where I’ll be documenting the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way as I bring this little Bantam back to life.