Bonhams’ two day motorcycle sale makes £ 1-million at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Stafford, 21 and 22 October 2006.

Bonhams’ tradition for holding outstanding sales at Stafford continued this weekend with the first ever two-day sale in which 78% of the 700 lots sold for £ 1-million.

With a reputation as the world’s foremost auctioneer of collectible motorcycles, Bonhams once again offered an unbeatable selection of machines, memorabilia and parts.

The two-day auction commenced with the Lawrence Rose Dispersal sale on Saturday 21 October, featuring 160 lots of parts and memorabilia, and over 100 British motorcycles offered with no reserve. The majority of these bikes dated from the 1950s and 1960s and attracted buyers from around the globe. With prices regularly exceeding pre-sale estimates, highlights included an unusual white 1950 Vincent 499cc Comet which realized £ 9,085 (estimate £ 5,000 - 7,000). Other machines of note were the 1967 Triumph 649cc T120 Bonneville (£ 4,945), the c.1953 Triumph 498cc Speed Twin which more than doubled its estimate, selling for £ 4,600 and the c.1959 AJS 348cc 16MC Trials (£ 3,910).

Also included in the sale on Saturday were two Italian machines that demonstrated the enduring attraction of the famous Ducati marque. Designed for bicycle attachment, the dainty Cucciolo (’Little Pup’) launched the marque in style and the c.1955 Ducati 48cc Cucciolo Mk2 offered for £ 1,000 - 1,200 sold for £ 1,668. This was also the price paid for a model produced by the company over 30 years later - the rather quicker 1989 Ducati Paso 906, offered with 19,804 miles on the odometer.

The Bonhams auction on 22 October was packed with collectors from Europe and the US. The centerpiece of the sale, the Jim Redman 1964 Honda RC164 250cc works racer, achieved a provisional bid of £ 325,000 and negotiations are still continuing to secure a sale. Redman was at the sale and witnessed the keen interest by collectors in his career - his three 1964 Dutch TT Winner’s silver trophies sold for £ 9,200.

Posted: 10|31|06 at 7:26 am. Filed under: Auction News.