Brough Superiors are the stars of the blockbuster Bonhams Motorcycles Sale

The spring sale

The international classic motorcycle show

April 23 – 24, 2022 Stafford,

Staffordshire County Showground 1936

Brough Superior 990cc SS100

Registration No. CTO 147 Frame no. M1/1627 Engine no. BS/X2 1002 (see text)

A pair of exciting Brough-Superior SS100 Restoration Projects achieved considerably above the estimate, each achieving over £200,000 direct the blockbuster Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale on April 23 and 24which reached a total of over £3 million and a 95% sell-out rate (99% by value) during the International Classic Motorcycle Show weekend at Stafford.

The first, an icon 1929 996CC SS100 Special Sprint ‘Alpine Grand Sports’which had been the subject of a campaign by famous Brough-Superior runners Reg Barton and Dick Knight, has doubled its maximum presale estimate of £100,000, finally sold for £253,000following a heated bidding battle between determined bidders online and in the saleroom, earning applause from the crowded Bonhams saleroom.

The top lot in the sale had been fitted with an ex-Eric Fernihough Brooklands racing engine and was offered for sympathetic restoration to retain its ‘workhorse’ character, complete with gearbox, tank and fuel tank. original front license plate.

The second most valuable lot of the day was a 1936 Brough Superior 982CC SS100one of the first Matchless-powered SS100s, which reaches £235,750also winning an enthusiastic reception from the room.

The SS100 had been owned by its vendor for over 50 years, during which time it hit 90mph on one occasion at Pendine Sands. Retaining its original chassis and engine, the Brough was offered as an exciting restoration opportunity.

Other motorcycles with a motorsport pedigree finding new owners in Stafford over the weekend included a 1951 Swiss Grand Prix 1948 Velocette 348cc KTT MkVII Racing Motorcycle.

Rise to victory by the first 500cc Grand Prix world champion, Les Graham, the beautiful Velocette sold for £57,500by just tapping £57,000 made by a 1977 MV Agusta 832cc Boxer motorcycle, originally loaned to world motorcycling champion Phil Read.

One of only two Boxers imported into Britain before the model’s name was reverted to ‘Monza’, the ultra-rare machine, was loaned to the seven-time motorcycle world champion and former works rider, when it was new. It was offered yesterday in excellent condition, having covered just over 18,500 miles from new and having been kept in a museum in a temperature-controlled environment since 2009.

As always, the Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale offered several collections of high-quality motorcycles and spare parts, led by the Alan Windsor collection. This selection of flagship British and Japanese models was put together by the well-known figure in classic motorcycle racing. The highlight of the collection was an incredibly low one-owner mileage 1988 Honda VFR75OR Type RC30, which doubled its pre-sale estimate to £47,150.

Another highlight of Sunday’s sale was auction world record fixed by a rare 1921 Wooler 348cc Model B known as the ‘Flying Banana’ which sold for £40,250, also doubling its pre-sale estimate.

The first day of the auction offered over 300 sets of spare parts and souvenirscomprising three considerable collections, and was a white glove sale, with 100% sold. An exceptional result was obtained by dismantling Project Vincent motorcycle, which fetched £41,880 – four times its pre-sale estimate.

James Stensel, head of Bonhams Motorcycles (UK), said“The Bonhams Stafford Sales continue to set a benchmark, attracting a truly international audience, with bidders from no less than 36 countries – living up to the name of the International Classic Motorcycle Show.

“The incredible weekend results take Bonhams Motorcycle UK’s total sales to over £43million since 2016.

“We are delighted to have been entrusted by our customers to offer so many of their prized motorcycles, and the team looks forward to returning to Stafford in the autumn for another exciting auction.”

Ben Walker, global head of Bonhams motorcycles, added“This flagship sale demonstrates that the market is strong for collector’s motorcycles despite the last two difficult years.

“Having recently signed on for a further three years as the exclusive auction partner of Stafford Classic Motorcycle Shows, we look forward to continuing to achieve these fantastic results at Stafford.”

The Bonhams Motorcycles team will return to Stafford on October 15-16 for their fall salewhose shipments are currently solicited, following a visit to Rome on behalf of the department first sale in Italy – Passione Moto – taking place at the world famous Moto de Miti in Civita Castellana, near the Eternal City two weeks earlier (October 1-2).

At the same time, the team is currently organizing its first dedicated online auction: the Phil Morris Road Racing Collection of motorcycle memorabilia and spare parts – one of the world’s largest selections of motorcycle racing memorabilia and motorcycle spare parts founded by paddock figurehead Phil Morris. The online sale runs until May 3 and can be viewed here: Bonhams: The Phil Morris Road Racing Museum Collection of Memorabilia and Motorcycle Spares.

Contact the Bonhams Motorcycles team at: [email protected] or visit www.bonhams.com/motorcycles to read the latest news and request a free auction valuation.

April 25

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