A 1927 Brough Superior Overhead 680 project motorcycle was the high-dollar sale at Bonhams recent Autumn Stafford Sale in England, where the motorcycle sold for £92,000 ($119,622). Overall, more than 400 lots generated sales of more than £2 million ($2.6 million) with a 92 percent sell-through rate.
“Our realistic estimates attracted bidders from across the globe, and bidding throughout was incredibly lively,” Ben Walker, international department director for Bonhams collectors motorcycles, was quoted in the post-auction news release.
For example, the high pre-sale estimate for the ’27 Brough Superior Overhead 680 was £80,000 ($103,875). The bike, albeit in need of restoration, had been owned by the same family since 1955.
The auction featured more than 80 motorcycles from The Bill Crosby Collection. They all sold and brought a total of £332,000 ($431,100), led by a 1-of-7 1977 Triumph 750cc T140V “Strongbow” flat-tracker that sold for £33,350 ($43,305), more than tripling its high estimate.
Among the top 10 sales were a 1960 Viscount with a 1,000cc Black Shadow-tuned engine and a 1957 Norton Manx-JAP 1,150cc, both machines consigned to the auction by AMA speed record-holder Eric Patterson.
Another top-10 sale was the Heuer wristwatch presented to racer Mike Hailwood by Jack Heuer in 1973 after Hailwood pulled Clay Regazzoni from his burning car after they collided during the South African Grand Prix.
The “White Unique” 2016 Harley-Davidson 1570 autographed by Pope Francis sold for $62,801, those funds to support the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Top 10 sales, Bonhams Autumn Stafford 2019
- 1927 Brough Superior Overhead 680, $119,622
- 1940 Indian 1,265cc Model 440 Four, $94,202
- 1960 Viscount 1,000cc, $82,240
- 1976 MV Agusta 789cc 750S America, $68,782
- Heuer 18k gold calendar chronograph wristwatch, $73,220
- 2016 Harley-Davidson 1,570 ‘White Unique,’ $62,801
- c. 1907 Norton 6hp V-twin, $58,820
- 1957 Norton Manx-JAP 1,150cc, $53,830
- 1950 Vincent 998cc Series-C Rapide, $50,839
- 1951 AJS 7R 350cc racing motorcycle, $47,848
(Prices include buyer’s fee.)
Bonhams will be back at Staffordshire for its Spring Stafford Sale in April 2020. But before then Bonhams will stage its annual Las Vegas motorcycle auction, scheduled for January 23 at the Rio resort.