Almost 90 percent of the classic motorcycles and scooters offered for sale at H&H Classics’ first motorcycle and scooter auction of 2024 were successfully hammered away on 27 March, for a combined total of more than £800,000.
The sale at the National Motorcycle Museum had lots ranged from a 1914 Juno to a 2010 Aprilia RSV4R, with all decades in-between covered.
The lot achieving the highest price on the day, a 1951 Vincent Rapide Series C, came from 12 years in an Isle of Man collection, covering a mere 600 miles in that time. The bike’s interesting history helped it achieve a final sale price of £31,050, more than twice its pre-sale estimate.
“After pulling together such a fantastic catalogue of scooters and motorcycles, we’re very proud and delighted to achieve a fantastic sales rate of 88 percent in our first two-wheel sale of the year,” said Mike Davis, head of department, H&H Classics.
“As always, there was a great atmosphere in the packed sale room with some spirited bidding battles that helped vendors achieve some amazing results.”
Scooters kicked off the day and among the successful sales was a 1948 Lambretta Model A, selling for £8,400, while a 1967 SX200 headed to a new owner for £12,075.
Serious scooter interest didn’t stop there, as a 1968 Rimini Lambretta Ancillotti Special Racer, signed by the Ancillotti brothers, was bought for £15,525 and a 1976 Rally 200 flew the Vespa flag successfully to make £11,500.
One of the oldest motorcycles for sale was a 1917 Sunbeam 8hp V-twin. The stalled project had recently been found in a coal bunker. Its ‘as found’ condition didn’t deter bidders, eventually being hammered away after an international bidding battle for £10,580.
From the inter-war period, a 1933 Excelsior racer, boasting works forks, frame and tank fired-up bidders enough to see the hammer fall at £13,800.
A 1934 Rudge 500 Special, pulled from a barn after 60 years storage and subsequently restored, was successfully sold for £7,820.
Meanwhile, recently found in a loft and presenting its new owner with a project, a c.1932 Coventry Eagle Silent Superb was bought for £575.
Slightly later successes included a restored 1940 Triumph 3HW that more than doubled its lower estimate, selling for £6,670, and an older-restoration 1952 Triumph Trophy, still presenting very well, which sparked enough interest to see the hammer fall at £6,440.
More recent offerings included a 1976 Kawasaki Z900A4 selling for £9,430 and a 1979 Honda CBX 1000, coming from 40 years ownership, which was bought for £10,350.
H&H Classics’ next motorcycle and scooter sale will be held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, on Wednesday 3 July.
