Bonhams Announce Rare Million Pound Single-Owner Collection of 60 Incredible Motorcycles

• An incredible single-owner collection of 60 rare motorcycles will be offered at Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale.
• The Lonati Collection consists of mostly American machines, including examples from motorcycle greats Harley-Davidson, Indian, Pierce and Excelsior.
• The collection is offered from the family of the late Tiberio Lonati, Italy based CEO if the Santoni Group.
• The Lonati Collection will be sold on a newly announced Stafford Sale day, Saturday 17th October.

An incredible collection of 60 rare, predominantly American motorcycles will be offered at Bohams Autumn Stafford Sale, taking place 17-18 October.

“This is an incredibly rare find; 60 fantastic collectors’ motorcycles, all carefully stored in the Brescia based private museum of entrepreneur and CEO of the Santoni Group, Tiberio Lonati”, said Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles.

“Mr Lonati loved what motorcycles represent, ‘complete freedom’, the open road, something highly synonymous with US motorcycle marque, Harley-Davidson – which is perhaps why he had so many.”

Stored in an astonishing private museum of motorcycles, the prized collection celebrates American marques from across pivotal points in motorcycle manufacture.  Highlights include a 1910 Pierce 688cc Four, estimate £60,000 – £80,000, and an Indian 1,265cc Model 402 Four-cylinder Combination, estimate £40,000 – £50,000.

The Lonati Collection began with Tiberio’s son, Francesco, who has a great love for motorcycles.  With his enthusiasm for the machines, coupled with knowledge of his father’s likes, Francesco Davidson WLA, now offered at estimate £14,000 – £18,000.  This first motorcycle ignited a passion, and soon Mr Lonati expanded to a vast 60 motorcycle collection, all housed in a private museum at the Santoni factory in Brescia, Italy.

From Left: 1942 Harley-Davidson 750cc Model WLA, estimated at £8,000 – £12,999; 1930 Indian 1,265cc Model 402 Four-cylinder Combination, estimate £40,000 – £50,000.

The collection includes a variety of marques and models, including a 1916 Henderson 1,000cc Model F, estimate £30,000 – £40,000, pre-war great the 1911 Flying Merkel 500CC ‘Racer’, estimate £16,000 – £20,000, a 1920 Harley-Davidson Model J, estimate £18,000 – £24,000, and at one-hundred years old, the 1915 Thor 1,000cc Model U, estimate £28,000 – £25,000.

From Left: 1910 Pierce 688cc Four, estimate £60,000 – £80,000; 1920 Harley-Davidson Model J, estimate £18,000 – £24,000.

Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale takes place 17-18 October at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Staffordshire Country Showground.  The Lonati Collection will be sold on Saturday 17th.

For further information on Bonhams morotcycle department visit www.bonhams.com/motorcycles