If you are obsessed With classic motorcycles, take note. The International Classic Motorcycle Show takes place next weekend, at the Staffordshire County Showground in Stafford, England, and with it the Bonhams annual Stafford Spring Sale.
As you’d expect from Bonhams, the auction house is stocked with rare motorcycles and vintage motorcycle memorabilia. We’ve chosen five things we’ll bid on…if we can, of course!
1931 Brough Superior SS100 George Brough takes great pride in each of his Brough Superior motorcycles, personally driving each to ensure its performance, but this 1931 SS100 is especially important. Specially prepared for the 1931 Olympia Bicycle Show, this SS100 carries the factory ‘show model’ stamp and enhanced cosmetics, and has been with its current owner since 1973.
Quality and performance were Brough’s primary concerns, but by the mid-1920s, a more serious contender was needed to match the output of Harleys and American Indians. Brough started with the 867 cc JAP OHV v-twin, but eventually switched to the 980 and 996 cc JAP OHV twin engines for the new engine. Model SS100.
The fork is a modified Harley spring and a proprietary rear suspension is optional. George Brough has personally certified that every SS100 model is capable of a minimum speed of 100 mph.
To make the biggest impact at the Olympia Auto Show, this SS100 received a special combination of black paint and chrome finish on the fuel tank, fenders and wheels. Although it is now covered with a layer of old black paint, the seller says that the paint on display is still there. Due to the special importance and well-documented history of this Brough Superior SS100Bonhams estimates the bike will sell for between $187,000 and $225,000.
1930 Montgomery-JAP 996 William Montgomery invented the motorcycle sidecar, and until World War I his company focused on good commuter bikes with innovative sidecars attached. It took several years to resume production after the war, but when they did, Montgomery motorcycles were among the fastest and highest quality bikes of the time.
This 1930’s Montgomery possibly one of the company’s weirdest products at the time, as it was powered by a 996 cc side-valve JAP v-twin engine – capable of around 26 hp. The heavy use of polish and chrome with black paint gives the Montgomery this timeless appeal, and the car is said to be in excellent original condition. Bonhams estimates hammer prices between $63,000 and $69,000.
1932 Unparalleled Model X The Matchless name was founded on the success of road races, especially single-cylinder models at the Isle of Man. But as early as 1912, the company experimented with larger v-twin engines fitted for sidecar duty.
One of the most popular Matchless cycles of that era was the glamorous Model X, which featured a proprietary v-twin engine and a reinforced rear frame for sidecar use. The Model X was produced between 1929 and 1940 and was capable of speeds above 80 mph. Even after the side-valve v-twin was phased out by the latest OHV v-twin in the 1930s, the Model X continued to sell well and Matchless v-twin engines were used on the bikes. British at that time.
Bonhams Lot 492 is a 1932 Unparalleled Model X with matching numbers and older recovery. The shipment is expected to bring in between $25,000 and $30,000.
1930 Scott Flying Squirrel Like so many of his peers, Alfred Angas Scott began his career in the early days of motorized bicycles. Scott believed in the power of two-stroke engines, and his water-cooled engine easily surpassed similar four-stroke engines from 1908 to 1914. Competition was not his original intention, but he realized the sales potential and his bikes achieved notable victories at the Isle of Man and in the hill race.
The Squirrel was Scott’s return to form after World War II, and it evolved into the Flying Squirrel in 1946. Power came from two-stroke 498 and 596 cc, radiator-cooled engines. large aluminum. Performance is relatively not as outstanding as Scott’s earlier machines, but still quite sporty for the period.
Bonhams Lot 340 is a Flying squirrel model 1930 with the 596 cc engine taken from the previous Super Squirrel. Pre-auction estimates range from $8,800 to $11,000.
Honda CR72 1963 In the 1950s, it was believed that four-stroke motorcycles could not compete with two-stroke motorcycles in road races, that is until Honda rewrote the program in 1961. By combining a certain number of With amazing valve technology, Honda took home a 250 first-class world championship title in 61, and ushered in an era of dominating road racing.
Honda’s CR72 is based on the CB72, but has been upgraded for competition use with dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a six-speed transmission. The CR performed well with 41 hp and 12,500 rpm, and was a great performer for Honda’s factory team at racing and short race events.
this special Honda CR72 1963 was once raced by Jim Redman and Bruce Beale during that period, and has since been ridden by Redman at modern classic events. The car has been restored and cared for by its current owner since 1971. Considering Redman’s notable competitive career with Honda, Bonhams estimates the car will sell for between $149,000 and $186,000.
