Auction prices continue to set records despite Covid fallout

Welcome boost for museum as investors snap up Norton and Sunbeam from reserve collection

A bumper set of results at the Bonhams winter sale has helped raise funds for the cashstrapped National Motorcycle Museum (NMM). The NMM had 52 motorcycles from their reserve collection in the first day of the twoday sale, with two of them setting world auction records.

First up was a 1928 Sunbeam 493cc TT Model 90, which raced at Pendine Sands. It cleared its upper estimate of £24,000, bringing in £41,400 while a 21,188-mile 1990 JPS Norton F1 went for £40,250 – both world records.

The really impressive figures were reserved for Brough Superiors, with five of them filling up the top ten. Top of the tree was an original 1936 SS100 owned by the NMM that has the earliest engine number for a production model, selling for £276,000. Three other non-NMM Broughs, an SS80 and two 11-50p models sold for £73,600, £71,300 and £57,500 respectively. Three MV Agustas brought in a combined £186,000 while an unused 1976 Honda CB750, which had been pushed just 3.6km, flew past its £4000 estimate getting to £9800. Elsewhere, memorabilia did well with two collections from the families of Barry Sheene and Percy Tait. A team holdall of Sheene’s

‘People are looking for safe investments’

went for £3187 while a Gabriel watch that was awarded to him at the 1976 Chimay race sold for £7650, which was more than ten times the estimate. A set of Tait’s race worn leathers went for £5737. It all goes to show that the motorcycle collectors market is extremely buoyant, fuelled by people looking for a relatively safe investment given the current economic turmoil.

Despite Covid restrictions and having to be rescheduled numerous times, Bonham’s two motorcycle sales have brought in more than £6.7m this year.

The next sale is scheduled to take place on April 24-25 2021, at the Stafford Showground as part of The International Classic Motorcycle Show.