£1.3M MILLION H&H CLASSICS MOTORBIKE AUCTION ACHIEVES 76% SALE RATE AT THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM, BIRMINGHAM ON JULY 30TH

1932 BROUGH SUPERIOR LEADS THE WAY AT £120,750

 Sold: £120,750 1932 Brough Superior 680 Black Alpine

The H&H Classics sale at the National Motorcycle Museum yesterday featuring a huge selection of 312 bikes achieved a strong sell through rate of 76% and grossed over £1.3m.

Among the many wonderful bikes on offer was a decidedly sporty 1932 Brough Superior 680 Black Alpine which had been very skilfully restored by marque specialist Simon Miles. Thoroughly mechanically overhauled, the Black Alpine had been cosmetically aged so that it exuded a careworn look rather than resembling a shiny new pin (as is typically the case with freshly refurbished motorcycles). One of only two such restorations carried out by Mr Miles, the 680’s patina was widely admired.

The Brough Motorcycle marque will be forever associated with T.E. Lawrence, known as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ who bought one of the first Brough SS100s in 1925 having previously owned three Brough SS80s. The crash that would end his life came while riding another SS100, on a narrow road near his cottage in 1935.

1955 Vincent Black Knight £46,000

The H&H sale also included a highly collectable 1955 Vincent Black Knight which had had just one owner from new. On display at the museum until the sale, it was estimated to sell for £40,000 to £45,000 but made £46,000.

Mark Bryan, says: “The bike is in amazing original condition, showing 58,000 original miles. It comes with the original bill of sale, Vincent guarantee, RF60 buff logbook and factory workshop manual. It is the full package. Coming across one of these bikes in this condition is unusual enough, but the same owner from new is incredibly rare!”

Now a lucky bidder at the H&H sale will be able to write a new chapter in this wonderful machine’s life.

1928 Norton Model 16H sold for £24,150

There were some real surprises at the sale. A Great Banbury Run bike, Lot 167, a 1928 Norton Model 16H had been estimated to sell for £10,000 to £12,000 but took £24,150 (see above). A former show-winning bike that had been restored by John Guy in the mid 1990’s, it boasted all correct numbers and its original registration. Dry stored with little use in the last few years, the Norton came with an extensive history file with photos, old tax discs and other related paperwork.

Another surprise was Lot 27, a 1939 Rudge Ulster (pictured) which sold for £15,410.

1939 Rudge Ulster sold for £15,410

Other highlights encompassed the collection of Douglas motorcycles which the late Motor Magazine journalist John Anstice-Brown, born in 1934, had amassed. Despite being in various states of disrepair, ten of them were sold for £30,000 by H&H Classics yesterday.

One of Mr Anstice-Brown’s bikes, Lot 299, a Douglas combination barn-find sold for £12,095.

John Anstice-Brown’s 1927 Douglas SB27 Combination last used on The Banbury Run with his wife Brenda in the sidecar in 1959.

Also among the many interesting bikes to go under the hammer at this sale was a collection of 21 machines found tucked away in garages and garden sheds after its proud owner passed on.

The Medway Kent based motorbike enthusiast managed to secrete all these motorbikes in his garage, garden shed and cellar, unknown to his family. Twenty of these bikes sold for £25,000.

After the secret collector’s death, his family were amazed to discover the perfectly documented and hidden treasure trove. The bikes were found under a variety of covers and comprised,  a BMW with Steib side-car, six 1950s Autocycles that the district nurse would have used around the villages, and his pride and joy – a Velocette Le Vogue motorbike.

Mark Bryan of H&H Classics Motorcycle Department says: “H&H is going from strength to strength with the Museum sale proving to be a popular choice for people selling their bikes but also for the buyers. The Museum offers a top good location, fabulous sales rooms, free car parking and a great restaurant, and of course the biggest museum in the world of British bikes! Obviously this all combines to generate good sales results that can be seen with our sale yesterday which made £1.3m with a strong 76% sold.”