At the upcoming motorcycle sale hosted at the Barber Motorsports Museum, Bonhams is delighted to present motorcycles owned by director Bruce Brown and an impressive collection of Vincent motorcycles.
Formerly owned by Bruce Brown are a 1967 Triumph T20 Mountain Cub and a 1970 Husqvarna 250 Cross.
The Triumph was Brown’s first real motorcycle (he traded in his Honda step-through scooter to help with the purchase) and it opened the door to a friendship with Steve McQueen, which led to the making of On Any Sunday. One could say that this bike was the catalyst for the production of the greatest motorcycle documentary ever made. The bike is said to be in original, unrestored condition, with matching numbers and low mileage.
The Husky was given to Brown by Edison Dye, the then exclusive US importer of Husqvarna. In a now famous gesture of brilliant product placement, Dye donated several 250 Cross models for the film. In a letter dated 21 April, 1970 from Dye to Brown, it says this bike is “for your use of your filming of your new motorcycle movie”.
Few motorcycles in history carry an aura of prestige, performance and engineering like that of Vincent HRD. Expensive, well designed, well built, incredibly fast, wholly distinct, and famously loved by personalities like Hunter Thompson, the British-made marque was – and still is – unlike any other.
About 10 Vincent motorcycles will be offered, including several from a collection that was discovered in March in a dry warehouse in the American Midwest. This extraordinary number of Vincents includes four Black Shadows of series C and D production, one Egli Vincent built to Lightning specification, and two Comets. Additionally, there are a Black Prince, Black Shadow and Rapide project bikes, plus many genuine Vincent spares.
The Vincents are part of the “Collectors’ Motorcycles at the Barber Museum” sale to be held in conjunction with Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, 5 October.