Bonhams 2015 Las Vegas auction highlights
The list of consignments that went across the blocks at Las Vegas on January 8 included a diverse array of machines and memorabilia, including motorcycles with US and European racing history, noted collections, a rare group of 'cutaway' display engines and motorcycles, plus bikes formerly owned by Steve McQueen, Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.
The Herb Harris Collection of classic British road and racing motorcycles drew a lot of attention ahead of the auction, and ended up providing some of the Vegas event's top sellers. Harris only started collecting Vincents in the 1990s, but accrued an impressive collection (including the famous Rollie Free 'bathing suit bike'), most of which he had restored.
Leading the way at Vegas was Harris's 1950 Vincent Series C 'White Shadow'. The White Shadow tag comes from the fact that this unit didn't have the engine and gearbox cases enamelled black, like the Black Shadow. One of only 15 built in this configuration (with the bare, polished metal cases), the auctioned example had been restored some years ago and came with comprehensive history files, including documentation that revealed it carried a gold-painted frame at one stage. It sold for US$224,250 (AU$275,370 approx.); a new world record auction price for a Shadow.
From the same collection came another stunning Vincent in the form of a 1949 Touring Rapide, equipped with a Blacknell Bullet sidecar. Finished in the rare, but not incorrect shade of Chinese Red, with rarer cream saddle, the '49 Rapide was a matching numbers example, with the correct Touring-spec wider wheels and handlebars, as well as the specific attachment hardware for adding a sidecar. Blacknell Bullets were fitted to a number of Vincents when new, and research revealed this particular sidecar was originally supplied for a Vincent, though not the model auctioned. This stunningly-restored outfit sold for US$126,500 (AU$155,340 approx.), which was a new record price for a post-War Rapide.
Other Vincents consigned for this auction included a 1950 Series C Black Shadow which went for US$112,700 (AU$138,390 approx.), a barn find example of the same model and year which sold for US$103,500 (AU$127,000 approx.), and a 1950 Black Prince, which made US$79,350 (AU$97,440 approx.). The very first Series B Vincent, the HRD 1X Prototype from 1946, was passed in.
Other strong sellers included an ex-Steve McQueen 1912 Harley-Davidson X8E Big Twin, which was allegedly handpainted by McQueen himself and sold for US$117,300 (AU$144,000 approx.), while a 1936 Brough Superior SS80 with Watsonian Sport sidecar sold for US$115,000 (AU$141,200 approx.); a world-record price for a Matchless-engined SS80. Another Brough, a 1938 SS100 originally delivered to Australia and restored by Jack Graham before being sold to an American collector, was passed in against a $400,000-$460,000 pre-auction estimate.
Australia was also involved, although obliquely, in a near-new 1990 Honda RC30. With only 740 miles from new, the immaculate Honda was the subject of a fierce battle between a UK and Aussie bidder. The Brit eventually won the war, paying a new auction record price of US$52,900 (AU$64,900 approx.) for the piece of Japanese Superbike history.
Amongst a group of race bikes formerly campaigned by Dick Mann, a 1962 Matchless G50, which Mann rode to victory in the 1963 AMA Grand National Championship in the USA, sold for US$115,000 (AU$141,200 approx.). A number of the other ex-Mann bikes, along with more non-Mann competition machines were passed in, but exceptions included a 1961 Beart Norton Manx 350, which sold for US$75,900 (AU$93,200 approx.) and a fully-restored 1959 175cc Ducati Formula 3 production racer. Reportedly one of a less than a dozen 175cc F3s built, this example had US race history before a thorough restoration. It sold for US$89,700 (AU$110,100 approx.).
All prices listed include buyer's premium. For full results and further details from this auction, go to: bonhams.com
Vincent images: Bonhams - L.Thorne. All other images: courtesy of Bonhams, USA.
