Tag Archives: vehicle auction

Classic motorbikes offered at no reserve

If you’ve ever wanted to buy a classic bike at auction, it might be time to have a go as there are some potential bargains offered at no reserve in a Sydney auction next month.

There are 14 motorcycles available at the annual Shannons Autumn Classic Auction & Rare Number Plates in Sydney on March 4 2019.

The motorcycles span 86 years. The oldest is a rare 1911 Abingdon ‘King Dick’ 500cc solo and the most recent is a limited-edition 1997 Ducati 916 ‘Senna’, number 13 of just 300 built.

Vincent highlight

However, the most expensive is expected to be a 1953 Vincent Black Shadow.Vincent Black Shadow reserve

The numbers-correct bike from a deceased estate could fetch up to $150,000.

It was first registered in the UK in 1953 to Colonel AD McKechnie of Aberdeen.

The Vincent was shipped to Australia in 1965 and was bought by the current owner in 1972 who comprehensively restored it.Vincent Black Shadow reserve

The owner was a long-standing member of the Vincent owners club and also a founding member of the Ulysses Club.

Accompanying the bike is a history file documenting UK owners (Roads Act ,1920 Registration book), shipping documents and a receipt file.

The Vincent is in running condition and has been started.

No reserve bikes

The best deals of the show are probably the “no reserve” bikes.

That means the bikes will be sold regardless of price and it includes the 1911 Abingdon ‘King Dick’ 500cc estimated to fetch $24,000 – $28,000)

Here are the other no-reserve bikes with estimated prices in brackets:

Reserve bikes

There are only four bikes being auctioned with a reserve.

That means the bikes will not be sold if the final bid is not high enough to satisfy the seller.

How to buy

You can attend the auction in person, bid online or over the phone.

The best advice we can offer for auction beginners is to go to an auction or two with no plans to buy, only to watch and learn. Even for those who have bought at auction before, there are always things you can learn.

Check out our top 10 tips for buying at auction.

Click here to view all Shannons March 4 Sydney Autumn Auction lots.

The auction also includes many cars and 30 collectible black and white New South Wales Heritage plates.

The ‘271’ plate is expected to top the plate auction at up to $110,000.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Steve McQueen Speed Twin sets record

Steve McQueen continues to set motorcycle records 38 years after his death with his Triumph Speed Twin fetching the highest price ever paid for that model at auction.

The 1938 Triumph 5T Speed Twin 500 was estimated to fetch up to $US65,000 (about $A91,000), but sold at the Bonham’s annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction for $175,500 ($A245,000), almost three times as much.

When the hammer fell and the King of Cool’s ride set a new world auction record, the audience erupted in cheers and applause.

Steve McQueen 1938 Triumph Speed Twin

Triumph and McQueen

The Hollywood star had a long association with Triumph having ridden a TR6 in The Great Escape and the 1964 International Six Day Trial, representing the USA.

His Speed Twin was restored by friend and fellow ISDT team member Bud Ekins in the mid to late 1970s.

It’s not the most expensive motorcycle sold at auction. That honour also once belonged to a Steve McQueen bike.

His 1915 Cyclone sold at a 2015 Las Vegas Mecum auction for almost $A1 million.

Steve McQueen's Cyclone -
Steve McQueen’s Cyclone

However, that record was beaten on Australia Day 2018 when a 1951 Vincent Black Lightning on which Jack Ehret set an Australian speed record was bought at the Bonham’s annual Las Vegas motorcycle auction for a record $US929,000 ($A1,155,000, €748,500) by an unknown collector who is returning the bike to Australia.

Jack Ehret's Vincent Black Lightning collection valuable - speed twin
Jack Ehret’s Vincent Black Lightning

Bonham’s highlights

Another highlight of this year’s Bonham’s Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction was a 1993 Ducati Supermono, one of just 67 made.

It was tipped to fetch up to $125,000 (about $A177,000), but was bought fora bargain $115,000 ($A160,000).

Ducati Supermono speed twin

Another highlight that turned out to sell for a bargain price was a 1916 Harley-Davidson Model F that sat untouched for many decades and still includes a period front tyre.

It was parked indoors many years ago in indoor storage and was recently discovered by American TV car restorer Wayne Carini, host of the Chasing Classic Cars TV series which featured the Harley in one episode.

The Harley was expected to fetch bids up to $100,000 (about $A140,000), but went for just $34,500 ($A48,000).

Harley-Davidson Model F speed twin

Meanwhile, a 1974 Munch Mammoth TTS, known as the world’s first superbike, made $112,000 ($A156,000).

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com