Classic motorcycles from Britain filled the ranks of the top-grossing machines at Bonhams’ world-famous motorcycle auction in Las Vegas.
The Vincent brand in particular saw two world records achieved, for a 1950 Vincent Series C “White” Shadow – one of just 15 produced, which was the most valuable Shadow ever sold at auction when it made $224,250; and a 1949 Vincent Touring Rapide with Blacknell Bullet Sidecar, which became the most valuable post-war Rapide sold at auction when it was bought for $126,500.
A beautifully restored 1936 Brough Superior SS80 with Watsonian Sport Sidecar also achieved a world auction record for a Matchless-engined SS80 when it was sold to a private collector for $115,000. Also selling for the same price, making it too a world auction record for the model, was the 1962 Matchless G50 that helped carry legendary American racer Dick Mann to his championship.
For American motorcycles, the luster of Steve McQueen once again shined as his formerly owned 1912 Harley-Davidson X8E Big Twin sold for an impressive price of $117,300. And from Italy, the jewel-like 1959 Ducati 175 F3 Production Racer achieved $89,700. While from Japan, a nearly new 1990 Honda RC30 created quite a stir when it was the subject of a bidding war between collectors in the UK and Australia and sold to the former for $52,900, creating a world auction record for the model.
Fuller results in the next issue of British Dealer News.
To learn more about motorcycles to be auctioned at the Bonhams Grand Palais sale in Paris on 5 February, go to Bonhams.com/auctions/22528/