By 1962 BSA had upped the design ante by bringing out a new unit construction 650 twin, the start of the famous A65 series, the company’s overall best seller for years to come. But when the U.S. market beat the drum for a “street scrambler” it resulted in the highly tuned and highly styled Spitfire, named after the famous WWII fighter plane. The Special variation took it another step further when introduced at the Brighton motorcycle show in September 1965.

With its beautifully sculpted tank, at four gallons and twice the size of the standard Spitfire tank, the Spitfire grabbed the eye and the pocketbook. ‘60s bike fans were further encouraged by its snorty 54-hp, the twin cylinders fed by large-bore Amal GP racebred carbs. As a result of its overall visual and performance appeal, it was voted by the bike mags of the day as the “fastest under-750-cc machine” at 123-mph.

Today it remains one of the most stylish of the ‘60s machines of any brand. This well-restored example, in correct Peony Red, and from the Baker Collection reportedly only requires oil and gas to take to the streets again.