A Brough Superior Overhead 680 project motorcycle was the top lot at the weekend’s Bonhams Stafford Sale, selling for £92,000, exceeding its top estimate of £80,000 and leading the successful sale of more than 400 lots, which realised a total of more than £2 million and a sale rate of 92 per cent.

1927 Brough Superior Overhead 680 Project, sold for £92,000

1940 Indian 1,265cc Model 440 which sold for £72,450

Other lots which performed particularly well and also exceeded their estimates include:

  • 1940 Indian 1,265cc Model 440 which sold for £72,450
  • Heuer fine ‘Carrera’ wristwatch, presented to nine-times motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion Mike Hailwood by former company chairman Jack Heuer, achieved £56,312, four times its estimate.

The 18k gold watch bore the personal engraving ‘To Mike Hailwood for a successful 1973 Jack Heuer’ – a reference to Hailwood’s bravery in helping to rescue an unconscious Clay Regazzoni from his burning Ferrari at the South African Grand Prix, while Hailwood was competing in that year’s four-wheeled series.

The Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale also comprised The Bill Crosby Collection, a very special selection of more than 80 classic motorcycles, which achieved a 100 per cent sale rate and a total of £332,000.

The London Motorcycle Museum Collection

The top lot of the collection, which had been displayed at the London Motorcycle Museum, was the 1977 Triumph 750cc T140V ‘Strongbow’ Flat Tracker, which realised £33,350, more than three times the top estimate. This bike was one of only seven T140V Bonnevilles built by Triumph for flat-track racing in the UK towards the end of 1977.

1977 Triumph 750cc T140V ‘Strongbow’ Flat Tracker

Other highlights of the Autumn Stafford Sale:

  • 1960 Viscount 1,000cc, property of Eric Patterson, AMA speed record holder, realised £63,250.
  • 1907 Norton 6hp V-twin achieved £43,700– double its pre-sale estimate.
  • 1925 Norton 490cc Model 16H & Swallow Sidecar project realised £16,675.
  • 1927 Norton Model 18 Racing Motorcycle Project sold for £13,800.
  • c. 1953 Norton 348cc Manx Model 40M Project achieved £13,800.
  • 1957 Norton Manx-JAP 1,150cc, property of Eric Patterson, AMA speed record holder, sold for £41,400.
  • 1951 AJS 7R 350cc Racing Motorcycle, believed to be the former works machine of Bob McIntyre, realised £36,800.
  • c. 2016 Harley-Davidson 1,570cc Custom Cycle ‘White Unique’, signed by his Holiness and donated to the Pontifical Mission Societies, sold for £48,300, with proceeds being donated to charity.
  • 1989 Suzuki GSX-R750RR Special Edition, achieved £10,925.
  • 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750 Limited Edition, realised £7,590.

 

Ben Walker, International Department Director, Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles, said: “We are pleased to have had another successful sale at Stafford and to have achieved our aim – to sell the best machines on the market at the best prices. Our realistic estimates attracted bidders from across the globe, and bidding throughout was incredibly lively.

Vintage projects performed particularly strongly this weekend, highlighting the continued interest for rewarding projects from the best manufacturers. It is also interesting to note continued interest and rise in prices for modern-day classics, such as the Suzuki GSXRs.”

Visit: www.bonhams.com/autumnstafford to view the full results.

Bonhams will return to The Carole Nash 40th International Classic MotorCycle Show for the Spring Stafford Sale, 25-26 April 2020.