Looking at a 65 A65 for sale , it is registered as 65 Lightning , owner says it is a Spitfire Hornet , engine A65EC1366 frame A50C 175
looks made up out of parts
Might this help:
http://classicenglishbikes.com/tech_file/bsa.html#1965
or this:
https://www.classicbritishspares.com/pages/engine-and-frame-numbers (scroll down to BSA and then through to year...
The engine number is for a 1965 season A65 Spitfire Hornet.
Original frame number would be prefixed A50B.
The frame number is from an early 1966 season bike, the 1966 season bikes were made from about October 1965. The Spitfire Hornet was not made for the 1966 season, there was a Spitfire Special Mark 2 and a different bike the Hornet for 1966.
Image from the 1965 USA west coast catalogue.
So the factory would not have put a 65 engine in a 66 frame I take it ?
:) :) :) :)
I think thats quite likely.especially if the frame is early 66. Its also unlikely that it still has the original.
engine
The only way you're gonna find the answer to those questions is to contact Mr Steve Foden.(By mail only) The gentlman is the dating Officer for BSAOwners club. He'll be able to tell you almost to the day when your Bike left the factory etc. Takes the guesswork out of it.
Mike 8) 8) 8)
2 different bikes. A 1965 season bike provided the engine and a 1966 season bike provided the frame.
:) :) :) :)
Would it be possible that the 1966 season bike was actually built in late 1965???? especially if it was very early 66. Theoretically that may be ruled out by the Frame No.. BUT etc
Mike 8) 8) 8)
The 1966 season bikes were built from about October 1965, frame prefix A50C, engine prefix depending on model - A65L, A65T A65S and A65H.
The 1965 sports bikes had frame prefix A50B and a different series of engine prefixes - A65D and A65DC for Lightning, A65E and A65EC for Spitfire Hornet models.
the bike was imported from USA in 1996 and registered as a lightning , so you would think that the US title had it as a Lightning which it looks like to me , and someone had fitted a spitfire hornet engine or parts of one , so not a spitfire hornet with road parts fitted as suggested by owner
its over 50 years old so , probably had a transplant in its life. would be the sensible suggestion. maybe threw a rod and did the original cases in. Ive seen a few single halves of cases advertised. You see how many non original bikes have come back over the last few years.
as for ages, modern mx bikes are being released in August for the following year as all mods done and ready for the new season. but my A50 chop 1969 stll has matching numbers but frame modified, you have a standard frame but motor modified. neither not as desireable but still do the job as an original " as came from the factory" bike.