Rare classics sold at Bonhams Las Vegas

A RECENT Bonhams automotive auction saw six bikes fetch over £65,000, including an 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller which went for over £100,000.

The auction was held at the Imperial Palace hotel where a packed auction room of international buyers from around the US and overseas bid on approximately 200 motorcycles of diverse makes and models from every era of history.

A selection of the top lots are pictured below and included:

The very rare, factory prepared competition 1939 BMW R51RS – one of only two known BMW factory racers in private hands and the only unrestored pre-War Rennsport in existence – made £83,610 after competitive bidding from US collectors.

The tremendous “time capsule” factory prepared 1929 Harley-Davidson “Peashooter” found in an Australian mine in complete original, unrestored condition brought a very worthy price £80,800 for a private collector.

One of a handful of surviving “Big Xs,” a 1916 Excelsior Board Track Racer in original condition from a prominent Gulf Coast collection – previously shown at Pebble Beach – sold to a European for £75,000.

From the John Shola Collection, which was 100% sold, the 1952 Vincent Series C Black Shadow sold for £56,100, the highest price realized for a Shadow at auction in the US in the last two years.

The ex-Tony Guest, Daytona BOTT Amateur Modified-winning, 1974 Ducati 750SS Racer doubled its estimate and sold for £34,500 after sparring by international telephone bidders.

All images are courtesy of Bonhams Auctioneers & Appraisers