BONHAMS’ BIG ONE

Bonhams’ autumn sale at Stafford spans over a century of motorcycle development. Here’s a taster of what’s on offer

Sneaky pre-event look at the highlights of the coming Stafford sale

Bonhams’ two Stafford sales are probably the highlights of the UK auction calendar. And this year’s autumn sale reinforces that status. By the time the catalogue closed, around 400 lots of bikes and memorabilia had been valued, photographed and catalogued ready for sale.

This year, three important collections make up a significant proportion of the catalogue. The 80-bike Willowbrook collection is the biggest of the three. The businessman owner – still an active rider – is thinning out his 100-bike collection, amassed over the last 20 years and including modern machines like the 2017 Kawasaki H2R racer and traditional classics like his 1938 Excelsior Manxman and a 1928 AJS K8 500.

The 40-bike Adrian Reed collection also includes some real gems, including rare, vintage Hazlewood and NUT V-twins. “We are delighted to be offering Adrian’s incredible collection at our autumn Stafford Sale,” says James Stensel, Head of Bonhams Motorcycle Department UK. “The collection comprises so many important British and American marques and models.”

Indeed it does. So, too, does the Basil Keys collection. Bonhams have handled the sale of some of the late south-coast motorcycle dealer and racer’s bikes in the past and are chuffed to have been asked to move on some more of his bikes to appreciative pastures new.

The sale will be taking place at the Stafford County Showground over the weekend of October 13-14. Admission is by catalogue, which costs £25 plus postage from bonhams.com. In the following pages, here are a few highlights to whet your appetite in the meantime...

‘BARRY RANDLE FINISHED THIRD IN THE 1968 SENIOR TT ON THE BIKE’