1952 Sunbeam S7 deluxe, registered KNM 664 new by Bryants of Biggleswade.
This was the Sunbeam that started it all for the Kilminsters. In May 1955 the ‘Blue Un’ featured a list of second hand machines offered for sale by Hallens of Cambridge. One ad read ‘Sunbeam S7, 1952, windscreen, craven pannier equipment, excellent order £145’. Dave (my Dad, but to me and my brother always warmly called Dave) called them, then with sufficient confidence a deal could be done, took his old ’46 Model 18 Norton to Cambridge – by train because a) he was a GWR employee, so could travel on a cheap fare and b) the old Norton might not have made it under her own steam! As Dave pushed the Norton along the pavement the Hallens’ window loomed into view; there in pride of place stood KNM 664. Magnificent, clean and shiny in mist green, with engine, gearbox, front hub and rear drive all polished to a mirror finish. It wore a huge aluminium skirted windscreen, twin wind-tone horns, pillion seat and Craven carrier, panniers and top-case – just perfect. But a ‘SOLD’ label was hanging off it. ‘Oh no’ thought Dave, ‘someone’s beaten me to it!’ Closer inspection of the label revealed ‘to Mr Kilminster’ underneath; cripes they hadn’t even seen the Norton, let alone understood its ‘significant’ part-exchange value?!!! After some pitiful negotiation a deal was done and the Sunbeam journeyed to Swindon, by train of course! Originally supplied new by Bryants of Biggleswade and now just second hand with only 20,000 miles at time of purchase, Dave used KNM 664 for work and of course as a ‘babe magnet’. Trips to Newquay, other ‘entertaining’ towns and even down to the south of France, ‘stripped to the waist’ followed.
Camping at Newquay in 1956, fun!!!
In ’59 however the chance to move to Guernsey occurred and utopia, boats, sea, fishing, beckoned and won the day. KNM 664 was put up for sale in the Swindon Town daily paper. A rather drab character, probably a buyer for a dealer appeared, prodded and poked but bought and Dave watched with a ‘what have I done’ feeling as the rear of KNM 664 disappeared under the bridge at Evelyn Street Swindon. His feelings were so strong that the next day he tried to find it; no luck – oh well.
Fast forward to 1982; ‘Dave, what’s this bike in your photo album?’ With that the urge began for us to have a Sunbeam and that summer we acquired RMM 614, a ’50 S7 de luxe, already beautifully restored to original specification. I still have my Sunbeam and we have enjoyed many Rallies and tours together. Dave and I joined the Sunbeam Owners Fellowship and started ‘doing’ the Rally in ’86. A copy of the Sunbeam Registry was acquired and ‘well I never – ‘KNM 664’ we spotted was listed. Dave phoned and an Anthony Dearden explained how he had bid for it at an auction of farm machinery in 1973; it was last taxed in ’63 with a sidecar according to the tax disc in situ, but abandoned in the barn it was, 56000 miles showing, no sidecar and none of the touring equipment either and in very poor condition – but otherwise complete. The local lads were after it for a ‘chopper’ – fortunately Anthony’s £41 won and by 1975 it was beautifully restored with some of the Stewart mods fitted. A Watsonian Monza in matching mist green was soon added – it even attended the SOF Rally in ’75. Did you see it? After the Rally in ’87 (our second) we even went up to Huddersfield to see it. We took pictures, stayed with the Dearden family overnight and left knowing there was little chance of ever having it back – he had young sons too. The tax disc showed it was last used in ’81 which was a shame in our eyes – but at least we had been invited to see it, had first refusal and could take a huge amount of comfort in knowing it was in very reliable hands.
Fast forward to 1995. I started sending the Dearden family a Xmas card, with best wishes and a polite reminder that should they ever wish to part with KNM 664, well you know….
Sometimes a card came back, sometimes not. Xmas 2004 brought a card, written by Kathleen Dearden that said ‘don’t give up, the Sunbeam is not being used and I think Anthony was wavering last year’. This was the first indication in 17 years that anything ‘might’ happen. I wondered for the next couple of days what action I should take. Before I could do anything I received a very nice letter from Anthony which explained he’d been thinking about the future of the Sunbeam and now retired, with a newly refurbished workshop, time and resources he was now ready to restore KNM 664 again, which he admitted hadn’t run since ’81. He explained he had a dilemma, would he or I do a better job/gain greater satisfaction? – a substantial offer might make up his mind. This really was good news so back went a cheque for an amount I thought fair on the basis this was a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity. He was delighted to accept. WOW! I’ve done it, some 45 years after Dave sold KNM 664, I have bought it back for him – and he doesn’t know about any of this!
At 10am on Saturday 4th February KNM 664 was unloaded from a lorry (I had sent a local removals firm to collect it – non running and with sidecar attached, cross channel, a job for professionals!) and with Alex and Reece my two young boys and John, my brother to help, that day was spent cleaning the dry white alloy, washing, wiping and oiling the more dusty and rusty cycle parts and hardly used sidecar.
What a difference a day makes! Even I was surprised by the 24 hour transformation. Dave had a GB plate from the AA on the Sunbeam originally. It had vanished at some stage over 45 years and during the couple of weeks I waited for the Sunbeam to arrive here I looked on the net and found an identical one, stripped, repainted and fitted it – a nice touch I thought; it was of course mounted in the same holes as the original one.
The plan for 1pm the next day was to present Dave with HIS Sunbeam! I made up a big SOLD label with ‘to Mr Kilminster again’ in smaller letters underneath, just like the one he’d seen at Hallens in May ’55. He duly arrived with my brother, some excuse about wanting him to help us with some odd job at my place; then we sat him on the patio and I explained I needed to blindfold him to present a late Birthday gift. I wheeled KNM 664 from behind my property to the front patio where everyone was. I videoed Dave as he removed the blindfold. He just sat and looked at it, he thought I was trying to give him my S7 de luxe combo to make room in my garage, he was not that impressed; then the penny dropped – ‘hang on – I’ve just seen the number, GOOD GRIEF- WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!’ and so it went on for a couple of hours. He jumped on it, looked in it, around it, underneath, on top, touched, stroked, stood back and rubbed his face in absolute amazement – job done!
Is this really happening today? Back on KNM 664 after 45 years; 5th February 2005
Now KNM 664 sits proudly in Dave’s garage once again. This summer (2005) we stripped her to replace the oil seals and bearings. Dave rebuilt the gearbox and generally made good many bits and pieces. He also re-polished the aluminium while I rewired her throughout. The remaining wind-tone horn turned out to be the one stamped L for low, so she has a melancholy drone which seems to symbolise her surprise at being coaxed back in to use after such a long sleep! The 1974 paint is still very good so we’ve left that alone. I had made from Dave’s old photos a copy of the 50’s screen (home made by the very first owner in ’52) and added a pillion seat and foot rests. Finishing touches have included a genuine period Craven luggage rack which carries period Craven panniers and top-box. A 50’s AA badge sits on the screen again. 100% standard and reliable order has been our aim, we’re there now. She starts at the slightest prod and is now taxed and road worthy – for us to enjoy until further notice!
Dave still can’t get over the fact that the Sunbeam he bought 50 years ago is now back with him after 45 years – nor can I really. We do hope you’ve enjoyed this story of dear KNM 664.
Best wishes, from Paul Kilminster and family on Guernsey.
With a pal at Chilton Foliat, Wilts, 1956
Post rebuild, home on Guernsey May 2006, but the same pose!
Evelyn St. Swindon, 'off to Newquay' in ‘56.
Evelyn Street, Swindon in 1957
Above and below, Guernsey, May 2006.
Halfway to St. Maxime with girlfriend and quite a load of luggage!
Outside 18 Evelyn St, Swindon, Wilts ‘56
