'TOP 20' AT AUCTION - UPDATED

The recent sale of a Brough Superior SS100 for £286,000 had me scrambling to revise my 'Top 20', compiled in 2008, tracking the highest prices paid at public auction for motorcycles.  Of course, rumors abound of much larger sums being paid for super-rare bikes, but these can't be confirmed.  There are many reasons buyer and seller might keep such a sale invisible by cash transaction and private sale, as sales tax and (in some countries) property tax begin to bite hard at six-figure deals.  So, we'll stick with legitimate auction sales, and as of today, this is what we find:

TOP 20 MOTORCYCLE PRICES AT AUCTION
(November, 2010)

1. 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer - $551,200
July 2008, Monterey, MidAmerica











2. 1929 Brough Superior SS100, £286,000 $465,350
Oct.22, 2010, Sparkford, HandH Auctions










3. 1949 Vincent Black Lightning Supercharged £221,500 $383,400
October 2008, Stafford, Bonhams








4. 1907 Harley Davidson 'Strap Tank' Single  $352,000
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
 








5. 1939 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide £198,400 $347,200
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams









5. 1907 Harley Davidson 'Strap Tank' Single  $352,000
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.

6. 1927 Zenith-JAP 8/45hp  £177,500 $312,986
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams













7. 1934 Brough Superior 996cc SS100 £166,500 $293.589
April 2008, Stafford, Bonhams












8. 1954 AJS Porcupine £163,600 $288,475
April 2000, Stafford, Bonhams











9. 1937 Crocker 'Hemi-Head' - $276,000
November 2006, Los Angeles, Bonhams

10. 1929 Scott Flying Squirrel 600cc ex.Steve McQueen/Von Dutch $276,000
June 2009, New York, Antiquorum

11. 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 £151,100 $264,400
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams









12. 1938 Brough Superior SS100 £157,700 $255,900
April 2010, Stafford, Bonhams

13. 1941 Crocker Big Tank - $243,800
January 2007, Las Vegas, MidAmerica











14. 1939 Crocker 'Small Tank' twin $236,500
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.

15. 1939 Crocker V-Twin Big Twin - $233,200
January 2008, Las Vegas, MidAmerica











16. 1954 BMW RS54 £143,000 $232,000
Oct. 22, 2010, Haynes, HandH

17. 1924 Montgomery-Anzani 8/38hp V-Twin £109,300 $192,702
April 2006, Stafford, Bonhams









18. 1911 Harley Davidson 7D Twin  $187,000
October 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.

19. 1973 Harley-Davisdon 750cc XRTT, ex-Cal Rayborn $185,500
January 2009, Las Vegas, MidAmerica

20. 1934 Indian Sport Scout (ex-Steve McQueen) $177,500
November 2006, Los Angeles, Bonhams

The statistics: 10 of the top sellers are British, 9 are from the USA, 1 from Germany. Six of these bikes were racing machines. 16 are large-capacity v-twins. 12 would have been called 'powerful luxury motorcycles' when new. All of them were extremely low-production models, barring the ex-Steve McQueen Scott!  By decade; 1 from the 'Noughts, 2 from the 'teens, 5 from the 1920's, 6 from the '30's, 2 from the 40's, 2 from the 50's, 1 from the 60's, and 1 from the 70s.  Ten of the top 20 machines were sold by Bonhams, 4 by MidAmerica, 3 by Gooding and Co, 2 by HandH, 1 by Antiquorum.  Seven of these machines were sold in 2008, 6 in 2006, 3 in 2010, 2 in 2009, 1 in 2007, 1 in 2000.

What the statistics tell me: 2008 was a banner year for spending on valuable old bikes, but the late 'Noughts were very good in general. Racing motorcycles from Italy and Japan - surely among the most valuable two-wheelers in the world - must never come up for auction, although they do change hands!  Provenance is extremely valuable, rarity more so.  If you have a relatively ordinary motorcycle, make sure Steve McQueen owned it. If you're looking to invest and don't have a connection with a former race shop employee, I'd start looking for obscure v-twins and fours.
(All photos are from the auction house websites. Click on them to enlarge)

4 Brough Superiors
4 Crockers
3 Harley Davidsons
2 Vincent-HRDs
1 Zenith
1 Cyclone
1 Coventry Eagle
1 Indian
1 AJS
1 Montgomery
1 BMW

'TOP 20' AT AUCTION - UPDATED

The recent sale of a Brough Superior SS100 for £286,000 had me scrambling to revise my 'Top 20', compiled in 2008, tracking the highest prices paid at public auction for motorcycles.  Of course, rumors abound of much larger sums being paid for super-rare bikes, but these can't be confirmed.  There are many reasons buyer and seller might keep such a sale invisible by cash transaction and private sale, as sales tax and (in some countries) property tax begin to bite hard at six-figure deals.  So, we'll stick with legitimate auction sales, and as of today, this is what we find:

TOP 20 MOTORCYCLE PRICES AT AUCTION
(November, 2010)

1. 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer - $551,200
July 2008, Monterey, MidAmerica











2. 1929 Brough Superior SS100, £286,000 $465,350
Oct.22, 2010, Sparkford, HandH Auctions










3. 1949 Vincent Black Lightning Supercharged £221,500 $383,400
October 2008, Stafford, Bonhams








4. 1907 Harley Davidson 'Strap Tank' Single  $352,000
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
 








5. 1939 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide £198,400 $347,200
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams









5. 1907 Harley Davidson 'Strap Tank' Single  $352,000
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.

6. 1927 Zenith-JAP 8/45hp  £177,500 $312,986
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams













7. 1934 Brough Superior 996cc SS100 £166,500 $293.589
April 2008, Stafford, Bonhams












8. 1954 AJS Porcupine £163,600 $288,475
April 2000, Stafford, Bonhams











9. 1937 Crocker 'Hemi-Head' - $276,000
November 2006, Los Angeles, Bonhams

10. 1929 Scott Flying Squirrel 600cc ex.Steve McQueen/Von Dutch $276,000
June 2009, New York, Antiquorum

11. 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 £151,100 $264,400
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams









12. 1938 Brough Superior SS100 £157,700 $255,900
April 2010, Stafford, Bonhams

13. 1941 Crocker Big Tank - $243,800
January 2007, Las Vegas, MidAmerica











14. 1939 Crocker 'Small Tank' twin $236,500
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.

15. 1939 Crocker V-Twin Big Twin - $233,200
January 2008, Las Vegas, MidAmerica











16. 1954 BMW RS54 £143,000 $232,000
Oct. 22, 2010, Haynes, HandH

17. 1924 Montgomery-Anzani 8/38hp V-Twin £109,300 $192,702
April 2006, Stafford, Bonhams









18. 1911 Harley Davidson 7D Twin  $187,000
October 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.

19. 1973 Harley-Davisdon 750cc XRTT, ex-Cal Rayborn $185,500
January 2009, Las Vegas, MidAmerica

20. 1934 Indian Sport Scout (ex-Steve McQueen) $177,500
November 2006, Los Angeles, Bonhams

The statistics: 10 of the top sellers are British, 9 are from the USA, 1 from Germany. Six of these bikes were racing machines. 16 are large-capacity v-twins. 12 would have been called 'powerful luxury motorcycles' when new. All of them were extremely low-production models, barring the ex-Steve McQueen Scott!  By decade; 1 from the 'Noughts, 2 from the 'teens, 5 from the 1920's, 6 from the '30's, 2 from the 40's, 2 from the 50's, 1 from the 60's, and 1 from the 70s.  Ten of the top 20 machines were sold by Bonhams, 4 by MidAmerica, 3 by Gooding and Co, 2 by HandH, 1 by Antiquorum.  Seven of these machines were sold in 2008, 6 in 2006, 3 in 2010, 2 in 2009, 1 in 2007, 1 in 2000.

What the statistics tell me: 2008 was a banner year for spending on valuable old bikes, but the late 'Noughts were very good in general. Racing motorcycles from Italy and Japan - surely among the most valuable two-wheelers in the world - must never come up for auction, although they do change hands!  Provenance is extremely valuable, rarity more so.  If you have a relatively ordinary motorcycle, make sure Steve McQueen owned it. If you're looking to invest and don't have a connection with a former race shop employee, I'd start looking for obscure v-twins and fours.
(All photos are from the auction house websites. Click on them to enlarge)

4 Brough Superiors
4 Crockers
3 Harley Davidsons
2 Vincent-HRDs
1 Zenith
1 Cyclone
1 Coventry Eagle
1 Indian
1 AJS
1 Montgomery
1 BMW

TOP 20 AUCTION PRICES FOR MOTORCYCLES

A journalist for Spiegel magazine in Germany sent a query for the top 20 prices paid at auction for motorcycles; I'm scooping him as I did the research! Here they are, using the exchange rate on the day sold, and prices include the buyer's premium. Interesting that so many of these motorcycles have been sold in the last two years (but not all of them; the AJS 'Porcupine' and McEvoy-JAP were both sold more than 4 years ago). Higher prices for racing motorcycles have purportedly been realized in private sales, but as we have no way of confirming those transactions, this list will have to suffice as a reference.

The statistics: 12 of the top sellers are British, 6 are from the USA, 2 are from Germany. Six of these bikes were racing machines. 17 are large-capacity v-twins. 12 would have been called 'powerful luxury motorcycles' when new. All of them were extremely low production models, the sole exception being the Vincent 'White Shadow', which was an ultra-rare variant on a comparatively common machine (there being over 10,000 Vincent twins made). By decade; 2 from the 'teens, 6 from the 1920's, 5 from the '30's, 2 from the 40's, 2 from the 50's, 2 from the 60's. Thirteen of the top 20 machines were sold by Bonhams, 5 by MidAmerica, 1 by J.Woodand Co., 1 by HandH.

What the statistics tell me: Racing motorcycles from Italy and Japan must never come up for auction, although they do change hands! Provenance is extremely valuable, rarity more so. If you're looking to invest and don't have a connection with a former race shop employee, I'd start looking for obscure v-twins. But you're about 10 years too late. If you want my opinion on future trends, ask, but I'll probably write about it anyway. I was right about buying 1920's machines, though!
(All photos are from the auction house websites. Click on them to enlarge)


TOP 20 MOTORCYCLE PRICES AT AUCTION
(as of September, 2008)

1. 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer - $551,200
July 2008, Monterey, MidAmerica











2. 1929 Brough Superior SS100, £286,000 $465,350
Oct.22, 2010, Sparkford, HandH Auctions










3. 1949 Vincent Black Lightning Supercharged £221,500 $383,400
October 2008, Stafford, Bonhams








4. 1939 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide £214,800 $378,757
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams









5. The ex-Roland Martin, Brooklands, 1927 Zenith-JAP 8/45hp Championship Motorcycle Combination £177,500 $312,986
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams













6. 1934 Brough Superior 996cc SS100 £166,500 $293.589
April 2008, Stafford, Bonhams












7. 1954 AJS Porcupine £163,600 $288.475
April 2000, Stafford, Bonhams











8. 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 £163,200 $287,770
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams
 







9. 1941 Crocker Big Tank - $243,800
January 2007, Las Vegas, MidAmerica











10. 1939 Crocker V-Twin Big Twin - $233,200
January 2008, Las Vegas, MidAmerica











11. 1924 Montgomery-Anzani 8/38hp V-Twin £109,300 $192,702
April 2006, Stafford, Bonhams









12. 1973 Harley-Davisdon 750cc XRTT, ex-Cal Rayborn $185,500
January 2009, Las Vegas, MidAmerica











13. 1928 Coventry-Eagle 980cc Flying-8 £100,500 $177,182
April 2008, Stafford, Bonhams









14. 1928 Windhoff 746cc Four £100,500 $177,182
April 2008, Stafford, Bonhams









15. 1915 Harley-Davidson Twin, $169,600
January 10, 2009, Las Vegas, MidAmerica









16. 1968 Fath URS Double World Championship sidecar racer £102,700 $166,000
Oct 17th 2010 Stafford, Bonhams

17. 1925 Brough Superior 980cc SS80 De Luxe £85,200 $155,532
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams








18. 1954 Vincent 998cc White Shadow Series C £81,800 $144,246
April 2007, Stafford, Bonhams











19. 1937 Brough Superior SS-100 $137,000
November 2005, LA, Bonhams









20. 1913 Flying Merkel $130,000
October 2006, Barber Vintage Festival, J.Woodand Co.









[As a personal aside, I have been fortunate enough to own three 'siblings' of the motorcycles on this list - Brough Superiors SS100 and 680, and a Zenith-JAP KTOR. I purchased each of these machines when prices seemed high, and each involved a bit of personal sacrifice to own, yet as a middle-class, working individual, I could afford such legendary machines. I feel fortunate indeed to have 'got in the game' before prices reached six figures, and the average fellow was priced out of the market. Still, the motorcycles on the list are truly the creme de la creme, the finest machines available in the world. There are others yet to come, especially ex-works racing machines, which will undoubtedly fetch even higher prices (see the recent sale of the Helmut Fath URS racer for proof). I would argue that, as in other realms (fine art, important documents, etc), some cultural artifacts are necessarily beyond the reach of mere mortals, and will fall only into the hands of the truly wealthy and/or museums, to be preserved for future generations... and we will have more humble fare to ride and enjoy...for better or worse. Long live the Triumph Trophy, the Velocette Venom, the BMW R69S, the Honda CB750, the Ducati 750GT...]