Jim Thompson’s 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle, restored to pristine
condition, currently on display at the
Crown Beijing Ultracenter.


Jim Thompson fueling up his
motorcycle in Norway, 1960.

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

Beside is a picture of the vehicle which was used by Jim Thompson, Chairman and Founder of the Crown Worldwide Group, as he set off during his youth to travel from the United States across international waters to Europe. This journey, experienced on this motorbike, ignited his appetite for international travel and eventual voyage to Asia—inspiring him to start the company in Japan in 1965.

In September 1960, Jim Thompson and his close friend began a year long trip to scale the globe. Departing San Jose, California they ventured across the United States and Canada. After sailing from Montreal, Canada to Liverpool, England they took a train to London where they both purchased motorcycles for their travels across Europe.

This 1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle is the actual vehicle purchased by Jim Thompson in October, 1960. The Journey began from London to Newcastle, on an overnight trip from the capital to the country’s Northeast coast. The last part of the journey was during a rainstorm and Jim did not have any wet weather clothing so he arrived at Newcastle wet and exhausted. After purchasing a jacket the next morning, he then set out from Newcastle to Bergen, Norway.

To ride from Bergen on the west coast to Oslo, Norway on the east coast requires going over a mountain range. On the day scheduled to leave Bergen, he was preparing his bike when he was informed by a local resident that the mountain roads were not possible. Trying to check back in to the hotel, he 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. It was a freezing night and he awoke to the sight of an old Norwegian lady, who handed him an apple. That was a gesture of generosity he never forgot.

The motorcycle carried Jim across Norway to Oslo and then into Sweden. While crossing the windy and snow-filled roads in the mountains of Norway, Mr. Thompson continually talked to the motorcycle—in an attempt to will it into completing the journey to Oslo. Had it broken down he may well have frozen because there was no traffic or nearby civilization in either direction. He promised the bike that if it got him through to Oslo, he would never part with it again.

After the journey through Western Europe, the motorcycle was then shipped to Mannheim, Germany for a booking on a vessel back to California, USA. It was restored to its current condition in 1989 near Los Angeles, California. The1958 BSA Bantam motorcycle, restored to pristine condition, is currently on display in the lobby of the Crown Beijing Ultracenter, which opened for business in October, 2007.

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 months later, in January, 1965. Mr. Thompson began the formation of what is now the Crown Worldwide Group, and continued his spirit of adventure into the business world. The result of his entrepreneurial spirit was the creation of the world’s largest privately-owned group of transportation, relocations, records management and logistics companies.

For more about Crown's history, please click here.

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