1954 Vincent Series-C `White Shadow' sells for a World Record 81,800 at Bonhams' 1-million Sale at The Classic MotorCycle Show, Stafford, 29th April 2007
Bonhams' celebrated its first major collectors' motorcycle sale of 2007 in typically commanding fashion, selling 86% of the 550 lots offered for a premium-inclusive total of 1,046,198.
Highlight of the sale, the 1954 Vincent Series-C `White Shadow', one of only a relative handful of its type known to survive, sold to a UK private collector after an intense bidding duel for a premium-inclusive 81,800, a world record price for the model, against a pre-sale estimate of 30,000 - 40,000.
The strengthening demand for these classic Vincents was confirmed by the performances of others in the sale. The c.1954 Rapide Series-D/Series-B V-twin `hybrid' sold for 18,400, while the three single-cylinder Comets demonstrated the continuing popularity of the V-Twin's baby brother, the 1951 example bought by the vendor in 1964 selling for 6,325; the 1954 machine in long-term family ownership fetching 6,325 while the 1954 `barn find', off the road since 1965, made 5,520.
An equally legendary V-Twin from across the Atlantic, the outstandingly original 1912 Indian 7hp `Big Twin', previously forming part of an important private collection in the USA, sold for 34,500 against an estimate of 20,000 - 24,000, while the 1913 Indian 7hp `Big Twin', centrepiece of the late Steve Stephens' collection, fetched 17,250.
Japanese machines form an increasingly important sector of the collectible motorcycles market with early examples particularly sought after, and this trend was emphatically demonstrated by the performance of the 1963 Honda 125cc CB92, which sold for 8,050, believed to be a World Record for this model.
Memorabilia associated with Mike Hailwood - arguably the greatest racing motorcyclist of all time - always attracts intense interest, and the 1961 Isle of Man TT Senior Race winner's trophy, awarded for Mike's first-ever victory in this prestigious event, set a new World Record for a TT finisher's award at 14,375. Mike's Bell Star helmet, used on his famous TT-comeback in 1978, made 4,830 against an estimate of 2,000 - 3,000.
Racing motorcycles of all types were strongly represented, with the enduringly popular Manx Norton a strong performer as usual. The ex-Frank Cope bike, a unique 250cc Manx known as `The Tiddler' fetched 26,450; the ex-Rudi Allison outside-flywheel `350' made 21,850; and a 1960 500cc Manx, un-raced since the 1970s, sold for 21,275. A distant relative of the Manx Norton, the c.1937 NSU 350cc racer, sold for 14,375.
AJS and Matchless were Norton's great rivals on the racetrack, and two exceptional examples finished only slightly behind them in the saleroom, the 1959 AJS 350cc 7R selling for 20,700 and the 1968 one-owner-from new Matchless 500cc G50 fetching 17,250. Property of famous ex-racer John Blanchard, the 1961 G50 was bought by the new owners of Matchless Motorcycles Ltd, also for 17,250.