BSA Rocket 3 & A65 Spitfire Motorbike Birthday Greetings Card by Motorcycle Artist Lee Lacey AGAvA

The BSA Rocket 3 shared much of its design with the Triumph T150, the two 'triples' representing a considerable departure from the traditional British 'twins' in both engineering and styling. The new style with squared-off tank and 'ray-gun' exhausts did not prove popular though and Triumph re-designed their version into the more traditionally styled T160. This did not take away from the qualities of the Rocket 3/ Trident and had they been released a few years earlier (their development for market was sluggish to say the least!), it could have better prepared the British industry for the Japanese entry into larger capacity bikes in 1969 with the landmark Honda 750/4. Against the four-cylinder machine neither version of the British 'Three' could compete.

Earlier than the Rocket 3, the Spitfire was the fastest version of BSA's A65 line, which at one point extended to seven different models. Equipped with a larger fuel tank and twin GP carburettors, the twin-cylinder 650cc machine could reach over 120mph. The Spitfire, in common with the whole A65 range, had the unit-construction engine, often referred to as the 'Peanut' engine due to the unusual shape. In comparison with the rival Triumph engine it looked somewhat ungainly and contributed to the machine never gaining the kind of legendary status the T120 Bonneville has come to enjoy. 

Saying this however, both machines have an avid following among classic motorcycle enthusiasts.  

The original oil on canvas board painting from which our cards and prints are taken is currently available. It measures 16" x 12" (406mm x 305mm), with a framed size of 20" x 16" (508mm x 406mm

The image is number 2 in our range of 10 pictures for our "Motorcycle Marques" range