Mixed fortunes
The cream rose to the top at this summer sale on the other side of the Atlantic
Mecum’s three-day Monterey sale showed the first evidence of a potential slowdown in the motorcycle market for a very long time. Out of 71 motorcycle lots offered, 30 failed to sell – although, as usual, the most desirable and collectable machines still attracted strong bidding and commanded some impressive prices.
Topping the sale was a 1953 Vincent Series C Black Shadow, which sold for $148,500 (£106,550). A two-time winner at the prestigious Quail concours event, the bike had been the subject of a stunning restoration and it was no surprise to see it perform well at auction. There were some other strong prices realised at the sale, too.
A 1975 Yamaha TZ750 dirt-track racer was one machine that did just that. Although it was a replica rather than the real thing, it made an impressive $44,000 (£31,664). But what a replica it was. With a nickel-plated replica Champion frame, a hand-crafted exhaust system by custom builders Palhegyi
Design and a genuine TZ750 engine, the bike was commissioned from Palhegyi Design (who have built a number of TZ dirt-track reps) by a customer and was simply stunning.
A beautifully restored 1914 Harley-davidson Model 10F twospeed went for $101,200 (£72,812), too – but it wasn’t all about top-end collectors machines at Monterey. A very original looking 1970 Triumph 500 Trophy street scrambler changed hands for a more affordable $7150 (£5,141) and a 1979 example of America’s ultra-lightweight trail tool, the Honda CT90, sold for $3850 (£2,770).
Some ups and downs, then. But who’d bet against normal service resuming at Las Vegas in the new year? mecum.com