The Bonhams auction at Stafford is one of the most anticipated sale of classic motorcycles, spares and memorabilia and today's sale includes several 'big hitters' among its comprehensive list of lots...
Bonhams sale is open for viewing from 9am on the Sunday, but you will need a catalogue for access. The auction commences at 10am on the Sunday. We've picked four items from the 400-plus lots to give you a taster, and snapped some of our favourite lots.
First and quite fitting considering who our guest of honour is the ex-Graeme Crosby, 1978/79 Moriwaki Kawasaki 1100cc TT Formula 1 Racing Motorcycle (lot 364).
To say that New Zealander Graeme Crosby's arrival on the UK racing scene in 1979 caused a sensation would be something of an understatement. At a time when a full fairing and clip-on handlebars were considered essential for a racing motorcycle, here was a bike wearing normal handlebars, ridden by an unknown from 'down under' sitting upright, that immediately had the measure of the home-grown stars. Only a chopper winning the Senior TT would have caused more of a stir.
'Croz's bike has a sale estimate of £20-25,000.
• LOT 303 1929 Grindlay-Peerless 498cc
Next up is the cover bike on the Bonhams catalogue (with company name on tank spelt with an 'ey' and not 'ay'), the ex-Edmond 'Boy' Tubb, Brooklands 'Gold Star'-winning 1929 Grindlay-Peerless 498cc Brooklands 'Hundred Model' (Lacey Replica)
When Grindlay-Peerless-mounted C W G 'Bill' Lacey became the first man to cover 100 miles in an hour on British soil in August 1928, the Coventry factory lost no time in bringing out a replica of his machine - the Brooklands 'Hundred Model'. However, lacking the resources of larger rivals and perhaps over-estimating the demand for such a specialised piece of racing equipment, they sold only a handful, believed to be no more than five or six machines. Only two of these are known to survive: the one first owned by Brooklands and Manx Grand Prix competitor J D Potts (sold by Bonhams at Stafford in April 2001) and that offered here, which belonged to prominent VMCC member, the late Edmond Joseph 'Boy' Tubb, who won his Brooklands 'Gold Star' aboard the Grindlay. Thus this example's emergence from the Tubb family's long-term ownership can be seen as an event of exceptional historic interest and importance.
Estimate is between £50-70,000 and we're predicting the top end of the estimate.
• LOT 310 1925 Brough Superior 981cc SS80
Then our next choice for the 'silly money' award would be the single family ownership from new 1925 Brough Superior 981cc SS80
An early Standard model fitted with JAP's four-cam, 981cc motor, this 'barn find' SS80 comes with Brough Superior Club copy Works Record Card showing that it was supplied new as a solo to the Allen Bennett Motor Co in Croydon, Surrey. The Brough was despatched from the factory on April 7, 1925 and 13 days later was registered to first owner Leonard Alfred Foster of Bexleyheath, Kent. The substantial history file (close inspection recommended) contains plentiful correspondence between George Brough and Leonard Foster, including an estimate dated July 12, 1927 for thoroughly stripping and rebuilding an SS80 (£15!), as well as numerous invoices for spare parts supplied. This correspondence also records the fact that the tank was sent back to the factory for repair and re-plating in July 1930. Unusually, all the related envelopes have been retained.
It carries an estimate of between £55-75,000, and, again, we would expect the upper estimate to be realised.
• LOT 246 - Yamaha YZF-R7 0W02
Possibly the best Japanese bike will be lot 246, an unused and unregistered 2002 Yamaha 749cc YZF-R7 0W02
Like its OW-01 predecessor, the YZF-R7 (also known as the OW-02) owed its existence to the Hamamatsu factory's need for a World Superbike Championship contender. It was produced in relatively limited quantities, only 500 being made to meet the Championship's homologation requirements, of which only 34 were earmarked for the UK. Road-going versions are rare and genuine race bikes even rarer, and despite their relative modernity both are highly sought after by collectors.
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