A new world record price was set at Bonhams’ Autumn Stafford Sale in October for a very famous motorcycle: the 1936 Olympia Motorcycle Show Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide. The price? A snip at £322,000.
The Vincent came with a hefty provenance including photos of its being used through the years, as befits the second ever produced and oldest surviving complete example of a Rapide..
A total of 395 lots of classic motorcycles, memorabilia and spares was sold at the auction, for a total of £3.236 million.
Significant veteran motorcycles played a key role in the sale, with a 1913 Wilkinson 830cc TMC Four — one of the few remaining examples — selling for £104,650, and the 1913 Flying Merkel 995cc Twin Seventy-one 471, once owned by the late Bud Ekins, fetching £132,250.
Ben Walker, director of Bonhams motorcycle dept, said, “The market for collectors’ motorcycles once again proved to be resilient to the current economic and political uncertainties we face internationally.
“Talk of there being a downturn in the classic motorcycle market was quickly dispelled once the auction started, with strong competition for the machines on offer throughout the sale.
“A combination of high-quality consignments, well-researched history, a beautifully presented catalogue, and competitive estimates – coupled with being held in conjunction with a world-famous motorcycling event – meant we secured the best possible prices for our clients.”
While it’s certainly true that the best prepared, most original with provenance classic motorcycles did well, there were quite a few ‘ordinary’ classic motorcycles, particularly British, which fetched prices a bit below where they were a few years ago.
Highlights from the auction
1936 Olympia Motorcycle Show, Factory display machine 1936 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide. Painstakingly restored and documented. Second ever Rapide made. Oldest surviving complete Rapide. One of only approximately 78 Series-A Rapides. Sold for £322,000.
1928 Brough Superior ‘1,134cc’ SS100 Alpine Grand Sport. The most desirable of vintage-era motorcycles. Present ownership since 1982. Matching numbers. Little used during the present ownership. Sold for £161,000.
1974 Ducati 750SS. One of only 24 delivered new in the UK. Known ownership history. Restored condition. Present ownership since 2011. Offered from an important private collection. Sold for £140,300.
1913 Wilkinson 830cc TMC Four. One of only a tiny handful of survivors. Known ownership history. Present ownership since 1985. An older restoration. Pioneer Run, Banbury Run and Oude Klepper Glorie participant. Massive history file. Sold for £104,650.
2009 Ducati 990cc Desmosedici RR ‘Team Version’. Limited edition Grand Prix replica. Number ‘1338’ of only 1,500 made. Only 2,806 miles from new. Sold for £40,250.
c.1929 BSA 500cc S.29 OHV Sloper. Accompanying old/current V5C documents and an HPI check sheet state that this BSA Sloper was previously registered overseas. Requires recommissioning. Sold for £7,015.
1979 Moto Guzzi 850cc Le Mans MkI. Older restoration since deteriorated. 26,682 miles on odometer. Requires recommissioning, possibly a rebuild. With V5C. Sold for £5,750.
c.1934 Velocette 349cc KSS. An older restoration but in long-term museum display and will require recommissioning. Old/current V5C documents. Sold for £10,350.
1979 Honda CBX1000 Super Sport. Whilst the bike dates from the first year of manufacture, 1979, the date of first registration is given on the V5C as 22 February 1981, and believed to be a US import. Mileage recorded 7,985, to be correct. Recently re-commissioned by a Honda specialist, described as mechanically spot-on and ready for use. Sold for £13,800.
2001 Honda 499cc CB500S. Bargain of the sale. Ridden regularly until 2019, total of 13,430 miles recorded. Sold for £1,495.
c.1942 Zündapp KS750 Military Motorcycle Combination. Developed specifically for service with the Wehrmacht, the KS750 motorcycle combination featured shaft drive to the Steib sidecar’s wheel, a reverse gear, hydraulic brakes, and interchangeable wheels. Plus a matching trailer! This example has clearly not been used for a considerable period, and requires careful recommissioning or restoration. History unknown. Sold for £28,750.
