Unwanted machines auctioned at Nabiac

Brian Kelleher, proprietor of the National Motorcycle Museum at Nabiac recently had an auction on the site. My view was then he has come to realise that he was not going to complete some 200 projects in this lifetime. There were other items besides motorcycles such as old lawn mowers and vintage shop scales. However none of the motorcycles were from the museum, just surplus complete or partially complete machines that he had stored elsewhere. There were 1,480 bidders registered online and the buyers premium was 15%. I thought that the prices paid were better than average. A 500cc Moto Guzzi $8,250, Gilera $2,000, a rather incomplete 1929 Velocette 2 stroke $3,000, Bultaco Metralla $4,500, two Suzuki RE5 at $4,750 and $4,000, an incomplete Douglas $3,500, Hagon JAP missing a few components $2,500, NSU $4,500 and a sidecar body $6,500. Rumours were around that these machines were from the museum which was closing, simply not true. It is open and is remaining open, end of story.