1967 BSA Spitfire Special MkIII

[@redr1150r]

I owned one as a daily runner for 5 years, 74-79. Yes, I'm 73 and remember those days well.

[@4ager505]

I enjoyed your presentation. Due to random chances, I owned several Triumphs, but never any BSA's. Always liked the look of them, especially the Spitfire model you showed. There is just something special about the look of that tank and its unique paint scheme. I have seen several with a Union Jack theme. Maybe luck will favor me, and I will yet own one...hope so...Thanks!

[@DangerousSportsForSeniors]

Love this content. I've kick-started my share of BSA's. You're a better person than me.

[@ken2tou]

My second bike was a ‘69 BSA Thunderbolt. I was stationed on Oahu in ‘73-76. The previous owner had turned it into a chopper. They cut the front end to 35dg and extended the forks. The gas tank was replaced and a teardrop tank installed. The entire frame and tank were painted a gloss black. I painted flames on the tank. The engine and tranny were stock. That bike was an awesome island bike. Fast enough for me. It was a bit hard to get parts, due to the Triumph workers strike after they bought out BSA, however that improved in time.

[@novamotorcycles]

great story!

[@redr1150r]

I had that tank too. 🙂I owned 3 of them.

[@tunglegubbin]

There is no Spitfire camshaft.

[@novamotorcycles]

@@tunglegubbin Part no. 68-0473. It was offered on the Rockets in '64, then became the standard cam in '65 as BSA tried to keep up in the horsepower wars. Its profile originated in the A10 Spitfire.

[@tunglegubbin]

@@novamotorcycles my point exactly. Standard cam in all of them. Spitfire owners always talks about how special their engines are. It’s just carbs and pistons. The Spitfire cam myth never dies.

[@novamotorcycles]

@@tunglegubbin Seems like a salty point for you! The fact is it's called the spitfire cam, and was originally offered only in factory specials. The fact that it became the standard cam doesn't change any of that, does it?

[@tunglegubbin]

Didn’t mean to sound as an ass. I have had several of them and have friends who have had them as well. I even know people who people took their Lightning engines apart to put in the Spitfire cam they bought through some dealer, only to find their engine had the cam already. It’s not a bad cam. I put a Megacycle grind in mine at one time, it wasn’t an improvement.

[@novamotorcycles]

@@tunglegubbin no problem. It's good to keep folks honest. And yes, it's hard to beat this cam unless you've got serious other mods in the motor.

[@krtt750]

Nah! Sportsta!

[@novamotorcycles]

in a 1/4 mile, maybe. But not by much and not when it comes to top speed. Plus, a sportster weighs in almost 200 lbs heavier...