BONHAMS held their Summer Sale over three days in early July, returning to the Stafford Showground for the first time in 18 months - whilst the International Classic Motorcycle Show was also taking place on the weekend of the auction.
Over 800 lots were up for auction across the three days, and it was due to be a triumphant return with some truly special machines on sale - we covered it back in June - including an ultra-rare 1946 AJS Porcupine E90, previously owned by post-war AJS Works rider Ted Frend, which sold for a new world record at auction at £293,250.
With 98% of lots being sold, the total amounted to £3,585,000 over the three days, with Ben Walker, International Department Director for Bonhams Collectors' Motorcycles saying:
"It was a joy to return to Stafford for our first live auction in more than 18 months. The saleroom was buzzing with bidders – who nevertheless also had healthy competition from telephone, internet and Bonhams app bidders."
Some other sales highlights from the auction include:
- A Brough Superior SS100 1,000cc Supercharged Special Re-creation, offered as property of Ewan Cameron, sold for £126,500.
- 1914 Brough 497cc Model H, offered from the National Motorcycle Museum, sold for £103,500.
- 1925 Brough Superior 750cc Mark II, from the National Motorcycle Museum, sold for £92,000.
- 1973 MV Agusta 750S, sold for £81,650.
- 1973 Norton Commando 850 Roadster, sold for £12,650.
- Full Bonhams Summer Sale list here.
AJS Porcupine is the star of the Bonhams auction show
It is believed that the new owner of the AJS Porcupine is New York lawyer Rob Iannucci, founder of Team Obsolete and lifelong AJS-Matchless fanatic and owner of one-in-four E95 Porcupine in 1983.
With an estimate given by Bonhams of £250,000 - £300,000, the actual selling price was bang on, and becomes a new world record for an AJS Porcupine at auction at £293,250. The previous record was £157,700 in April 2000 for an E95 Porcupine, set by Brooks at Stafford - coincidentally also the record for any bike at a British auction.
There were only four E90 Porcupines built, and this latest sale will update the value of the remaining models out there for the lucky few owners.
With a near £3.6 million made at this Summer Sale, Bonhams note that this becomes their third-best auction turnover record - the top sitting at £3.9 million in 2019.
As a last note, some of the classic sports bikes at auction sold for very reasonable prices: including a Honda VFR750R RC30 for £29,900, a Yamaha FZR600 for just £862 & a 2002 BIMOTA SB6-R for £5,750.
Meanwhile, a 1981 Yamaha RD350LC sold for… wait for it… £12,075. Gulp.
