Classic motorcycle auction highlights buoyant market

H&H Classics has hailed its latest classic motorcycle auction as a resounding success after achieving a sales rate of more than 85 per cent, for a combined sales value of more than £1 million. Indeed, enthusiasts and collectors from around the world fought hard battles on several lots with winning bids coming from Australia, Germany and Hungary among others.

Despite more than 200 machines being offered during the sale which was held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull on 3 July, the five lots achieving the highest prices on the day were all manufactured by British maker Vincent Motorcycles.

From the Vincent quintet, a matching-numbers 1952 Black Shadow Series C coming from 20 years ownership was hammered away to warm applause for an impressive £46,000, the auction’s highest price, and a fantastic £18,000 over its pre-sale lower estimate.

A remarkable 1951 Vincent Black Shadow Series C barn find was sold for £37,950, almost £13,000 over its lower estimate, while a 1950 Black Shadow featuring subtle upgrades was also sold for the same amount.

“Our second motorcycle sale of the year has mirrored the success of the first and shows the market is alive and well for the right bikes, whatever their age and whatever their condition,” comments Mike Davis, motorcycle specialist, H&H Classics. “From bikes which are a bit of a project through to those in stunning condition, buyers are out there and the saleroom atmosphere certainly underlined that. Our first two sales have seen an 85 per cent sales rate and we’re immensely proud of that, so I’d like to thank vendors, bidders and buyers, wherever in the world they were.”

Away from the British machinery the enduring popularity of older Harley Davidsons was shown with a 1934 VLD model selling for £20,125, more than £5,000 over its lower estimate.

One of the auction’s oldest lots, a c.1915 Alldays and Onions Allon came from a private collection. Offered at no-reserve it eventually sold for a healthy £8,970. Meanwhile a 1925 Quadrant, restored to a high standard and again from a private collection, was bought for £8,625.

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Collectors and enthusiasts looking to benefit from H&H Classics’ two-wheel expertise and success have one more chance this year to enter a motorcycle into an auction. The company’s final motorcycle auction of the year will be held, once again at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, on Wednesday 30^th October.

Before then, the company will focus its attentions onto four wheel classics with auctions at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, on Wednesday 24^th July and the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, on Wednesday 9^th October.

For more information on any of the lots at H&H’s upcoming sales or to find out how to enter a classic into one of the auctions, visit www.handh.co.uk.