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Not just a beautiful motorcycle, but a piece of our history

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This 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle belongs to Jim Thompson, Founder & Chairman of the Crown Worldwide Group. As a young man, Jim embarked on a very special journey - a journey that ignited his appetite for international travel and eventually inspired him to establish Crown’s first operation in Yokohama, Japan in 1965.

The journey began in September 1960, when Jim and his close friend began a year long trip to see the world. Departing from San Jose, California, they made their way across the United States and Canada. They sailed from Montreal to Liverpool, England and then took a train to London. It was in London where they purchased motorcycles so they could continue their journey across Europe.

This 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle is the actual motorcycle Jim purchased in London in October, 1960.

Jim continued his journey on the motorcycle and headed toward Newcastle, on the northeast coast of England. During the trip, it started raining and Jim did not have any rain gear. He arrived in Newcastle wet and exhausted. The next morning, he bought appropriate rain gear and headed to Bergen, Norway.

From Bergen, Jim was planning to travel across the country to the west coast city of Oslo, two cities which are separated by a mountain range. On the day he was preparing his motorcycle to begin the next phase of his journey, he was informed by a local resident that it wouldn’t be possible to cross the mountain roads. Discouraged by the news, Jim tried to check back in to the hotel but was told that the hotel had no more rooms. Running out of options, he settled on a vacant park bench with all his personal items, where he spent a night in the freezing cold. He awoke to the sight of an old Norwegian lady, who handed him an apple. That was a gesture of generosity Jim never forgot.

Jim decided to leave that morning for Oslo regardless of the weather. He got back on his motorcycle and prepared himself to cross the windy and snow-filled roads through the mountains of Norway. It was a rough trip. At one point, outside the small town of Geilo, a large truck emerged from a very narrow underpass. Jim endured some minor injuries and the motorcycle was damaged but miraculously, the engine eventually restarted.

With twisted handle bars, isolated from civilization, Jim made a habit of talking to his motorcycle--in an attempt to will it into completing the journey to Oslo. Had it broken down, he may well have frozen. Jim promised his Bantam motorcycle that if it got him across the mountains into Oslo, he would never part with it again.

Jim eventually arrived in Oslo and made his way to Sweden. Unfortunately, the BSA Bantam broke down near Karlstad, Sweden and it was unable to be repaired. Keeping his promise, Jim had the motorcycle shipped to Mannheim, Germany and booked it on a vessel back to California, where Jim’s adventure began. In 1989, Jim arranged to have the 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle restored to its current pristine condition.

It was this trip, taken on this motorcycle, from 1960-1961, that fueled Jim’s interest in the history of countries outside of the United States. He continued his travels throughout Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. This exposure to the world resulted, in January, 1965, in the formation of what is now known as The Crown Worldwide Group. Jim’s spirit of adventure and entrepreneurial spirit was the inspiration behind the world’s largest privately-owned group of transportation, relocations, records management and logistics companies.