Auction brings weird and wonderful to National Motorcycle Museum
From wonderful to weird, this classic motorcycle and scooter auction has it all.
From the exotic (1932 Douglas T6 Airedale) to the mundane (2001 Honda CB500) dozens of classic, vintage, and rare motorcycles and scooters will be going on auction next week at the National Motorcycle Museum.
The auction, hosted by H and H, will take place Wednesday 9 July from 11:00 am at the museum in Solihull. Upward of 230 items are up for auction. You can peruse them all on H and H’s website, but here are five of our favourites:
1914 Triumph Model C
There’s something strangely thrilling about the idea of riding a motorcycle that’s more than 100 years old. This Triumph Model C isn’t the oldest machine on offer, but it’s definitely one of the most beautiful.
By 1914, Triumph had cemented its reputation for quality and reliability, making it the most common motorcycle brand on British roads. The company offered a diverse lineup, from the 225cc 'Baby' Triumph to low-slung TT models.
The brother of this Model C’s late owner meticulously restored it to a very high standard. An avid motorcycle collector, the owner enjoyed riding the Triumph for a year after its completion before dedicating it to static display within his collection. Some recommissioning may be required to get it back on the road.
1974 DKW Accu Bike E1
The 1960s and ‘70s were a wonderful time for affordable two-wheeled delights that were seemingly designed to encourage young people to get broken bones. This German-made electric scooter is a good example of that trend.
Though ostensibly designed for short urban journeys, the E1's pedals were ergonomically awkward, leading to speculation that they existed primarily to ensure the Accu Bike's legal classification as a moped.
1969/2022 Egli-Vincent
Would it even be a motorcycle auction without at least one Vincent on show? The manufacturer’s iconic 1000cc V-twin had a long life after production ended in 1955, with racers buying them up for all kinds of competitions.
Fritz Egli, a Swiss racer, achieved great success by placing a Rapide V-twin engine into a frame he designed himself. The Egli name has since been synonymous with racing Vincents.
Built to the vendor's specifications in 2022 by JMC Classics, this Egli-Vincent has only covered 177 miles under its current ownership. Described by the vendor as 'like new' and ‘ready to use’, it comes with the current V5C (showing 1969 as the year of manufacture and registration), a build invoice, some build photos, a dust cover, and a paddock stand.
1912 AC Sociable
Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry! Manufactured by Auto-Carriers Ltd. (later AC Cars) between 1908 and 1914, the AC Sociable was an adaptation of the Auto-Carrier. It featured a single-cylinder air-cooled engine, a two-speed epicyclic gearbox, and chain drive to the rear wheel, with steering managed by a tiller.
The AC Sociable was a luxurious tri-car for the time, notable for its innovative side-by-side seating - the origin of its "Sociable" name. Its refined design included semi-enclosed bodywork and optional accessories such as weather equipment and a horn. Beyond its comfort, the Sociable also boasted impressive performance, earning accolades in sporting trials, and even reaching 47mph at Brooklands.
According to H and H, “it was started just a few weeks ago and it ran and drove well.”
1964 Velocette Vogue
Want ALL the attention at a bike meet? Roll up on one of these. Veloce Ltd, perhaps better known for its high-performance motorcycles, produced the LE Velocette from 1948 to the late 1960s. This model featured a horizontally opposed, water-cooled twin-cylinder engine and comprehensive bodywork, specifically designed to address common criticisms of motorcycles as being loud and dirty.
The bike was the weapon of choice for dozens of police forces around the UK. Because police riders of the day were expected to nod to senior officers, the bike earned a nickname of ‘Noddy’ among many.
Offered without reserve, this Velocette Vogue is presented in complete and authentic condition. It includes its built-in panniers and touring screen. Although it has been stood for some time, the engine turns over on the kickstarter. The sale also includes a gasket set, original owner's manuals, and a current V5C.
Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
