Among the 85 motorcycles listed so far in the Charterhouse Classic & Vintage Motorcycle Auction at the Haynes Motor Museum on 30 March is an extraordinary 1936 Brough Superior SS100 with an Alpine Grand Sports sidecar.
Bearing the original registration number of DAU 673, the outfit is estimated to sell for between £260,000 to £270,000. But who knows? After recent sales in the US reached an incredible $1m for an early Harley-Davidson, the market for important motorcycles seems to be booming.
According to Charterhouse, the factory record shows that the Brough outfit was originally supplied to well known racer and dealer Eric Fernihough in 1937. The Brough ‘petrol in frame’ Alpine Grand Sports sidecar with Cruiser body was fitted before it left the factory.
The Brough and sidecar were featured in ‘The Motor Cycle‘ in 1952 in an article called ‘Broughing it to Brighton’. In 1954 George Brough borrowed the outfit from the then owner, a London policeman, to take part in the 50th London to Edinburgh run. Afterwards it was totally overhauled at the Brough works free of charge.
Sometime after that it was purchased by an American and remained in the James Leeke collection in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1987 it was purchased by Atlantic motorcycles and returned to England. A year later, it was sold to the present owner, a Japanese collector who has now passed it on to Charterhouse for auction. More here
The auction isn’t just for ultra high-end motorcycles though. My eye was taken by a very clean 1963 Triumph Thunderbird, that’s not long been fully restored. Unfortunately, the owner hasn’t ridden the bike since completing the restoration due to ill health and hence it’s now up for sale with a very reasonable estimate of £5,500 to £6,500. More here
There are also motorcycles that need work, ranging from ‘recommissioning’ – doesn’t that word embrace a lot! – to full restoration.
There’s a 1959 Velocette Venom being sold without reserve that’s had some work completed, but looks like there’s a lot more to do. Fortunately, it looks complete, has a current V5C and the original buff logbook and could be a good project if bought at the right price. More here
