1971 BSA B50 mx engine found, a beauty!

[Frank Davis]

Here is a couple of photos of my newest purchase.....This is a 1971 BSA mx 500cc single....we used to call these "thumpers"....Only this engine is special, it was built and raced by the motor builder "wizard" John A. Miller....John raced motorcycles in the 50's and graduated to building Grand Prix and Indy car engines for Dan Gurney and Al Unser (among others) before starting his own elite shop in Hawaii....This was his latest personal competition engine and was freshened up before going into mothballs years ago....flash into the future...John sadly passed away in 2014 and I purchased this from his widow....It is sitting on a stand he built for his beloved BSA engines.....the last photo is of John and Dan gurney going over a flow test.

 

[Frank Davis]

forgot one photo!

Oops!...forgot last photo....Dan Gurny and John Miller

 

[Bonanza BC1300]

Nice pictures Frank, thanks for sharing. Did you once live in the SF bay area, while working for United?


-Doug

 

[greyboy]

That's a prize!:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

 

[OND]

What a Treasure !!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Thanks For Sharing .

 

[Frank Davis]

Nope, never lived in the bay area....but spent far too many weekends there in the 60's!

 

[KustomKartKid]

Neat motor and history Frank, that's a cool picture with Gurney. Your gonna need a special bike to bolt that in.

 

[CarPlayLB]

Nope, never lived in the bay area....but spent far too many weekends there in the 60's!

that you can remember? If so, maybe you weren't doing it right!:thumbsup:

awesome engine! Gotta love the big bore thumpers! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Frank Davis]

It is a bit fuzzy.....I am having some folks contact me on if it is for sale or not?.....It could be available to the right "sweet-talker" with an offer I can't refuse!

 

[superflea]

Reminds me of my old dirt bike days and the 441 Victors that virtually leaped from place to place because of that bigass piston thumping along. They were chrome/yellow and it took two men and a boy to kick start them. Nice pick up and you will do it proud.

Fred

 

[Tom S.]

Here is a couple of photos of my newest purchase.....This is a 1971 BSA mx 500cc single...

Nice engine! Here's a shot of a complete bike.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSA_B50

 

[Frank Davis]

very nice!

 

[Havasu Dave]

Reminds me of my old dirt bike days and the 441 Victors that virtually leaped from place to place because of that bigass piston thumping along. They were chrome/yellow and it took two men and a boy to kick start them. Nice pick up and you will do it proud.

Fred

I have that exact memory of the 441. That thing would HURT you. Three of us, and one of the boys was (ahem) a little older than everyone else in the same grade. We'd get HIM to kick it. I've always want to get another one.

Nice score Frank.

 

[Neck]

Nice! An Ode to leaving stuff on your bench too long. Glad it went to a good new owner and not to the scrap man!

 

[Outlaw Ace]

A finely and tastefully built and equipped minimalist Café Racer would be my choice if I had to mount the engine in a frame and run it, looks great just on the stand though. An epic score Frank.

 

[Frank Davis]

John Miller, Dan gurney, Bobby Unser & son

Here is another great photo of John Miller with a few drivers you may recognize!....Indy 1972, relaxing in the infield.

 

[Frank Davis]

Tom S. I need a header pipe like on your photo....do you have one I could purchase?....This engine may never leave it's stand.

 

[Frank Davis]

bump

 

[bigrob]

Awsome engine Frank , hows the keystone coming along

 

[Frank Davis]

Here is an update on the BSA B50 engine by John Miller......I have been offered a chance to purchase John's 1968 Yamaha TT500 that he rode in several x-country events....complete bike, ready to race....SOOOO, to free funds up for this bike, I need to sell this (B50) engine......A rare opportunity to buy an engine with such history!....Price is 1500.00 + shipping/crating cost(s)....Let me know, I have this for sale locally.....Frank.