Two of the greatest names in vintage British motorcycling led the bidding at the H&H Classics auction in the National Motorcycle Museum at Solihull, England, on October 27, with a 1938 Brough Superior SS100 leading the sale, followed by a 1953 Vincent Black Shadow.
The Brough Superior, known in its day as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles, sold for a resounding £224,200 ($306,571), more than 10 percent above its pre-auction estimate high value. All sales results include buyer fees.
The Vincent Black Shadow, the fastest production bike of the early 1950s and one of the most evocative motorcycles of all time, went for £76,700 ($104,880).
The Motorcycle Museum sale was “a roaring success,” according to the auction house, reaching a new company record of about £2 million ($2.73 million) with 92 percent of the offerings sold. More than 1,000 bidders took part, the company added.
“The strength of the vintage motorcycle market has been growing year on year, and does not seem to have been hindered by the current economic slowdown; this latest sale certainly highlights this,” said Mike Davis of H&H Classics.
“The fact that we had that stunning Brough Superior SS100 and the Vincent Black Shadow ensured huge interest on the day and that certainly created excitement,” Davis added. “And with 200 bikes to choose from, there was something for everyone.”
Other highlights of the auction included:
A 1948 Vincent Series B Rapide, fully restored to “show-winning standard,” sold for £42,480 ($58,087).
A 1977 MV Agusta 832 Monza, a rare and original example of a fully faired single-seat Grand Prix race replica and one of the last MVs produced at the Gallarate factory, sold for £50,740 ($69,382).
A 1990 Norton F1 with one owner and 2,256 miles from new, which had been displayed in a London Rolls-Royce dealership until 2001, sold for £40,120 ($54,860).
A 1929 Indian Scout 101, a restored bike with a “slightly mellowed patina” adding to its appeal as well as a “lovely sound,” sold for £24,190 ($33,077).
A 1921 Kenilworth Motorcyclette, possibly the only road-going survivor of the marque, sold for £6,490 ($8,874).
A 1964 Lambretta GT 200 motor scooter, which had been stored since 1976, sold for £23,600 ($32,271), more than five times its top estimate of £4,000 ($5,470).
H&H Classics will hold its next collector car auction November 17 at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK. For information, visit the H&H website.
