Moby Dick' top seller at Bonhams UK Stafford auction

In 1931, this motorcycle achieved a top speed of 106mph (170kph) and was declared 'the fastest privately owned machine in the world suitable for road use' by Motor Cycling (UK) magazine's Dennis May, who also gave the high-performance machine the 'Moby Dick' nickname it's worn ever since. In stock form, the 980cc SS100 came with a guaranteed top speed of 100mph (hence the name) but this wasn't enough for Moby Dick's first owner, Charles Hobbs, who commissioned special oversize cylinders from Brough's engine supplier, J A Prestwich (aka JAP). This upped the capacity to 1,142cc, which in turn produced around 57bhp - 13 more horses than standard. Further tuning, in the form of revised compression, higher lift cams, lightened valves and twin Amal carbs increased the power to 65bhp and the top speed to 115mph (184kph).

At one point, this motorcycle even wore a sidecar, and was still able to reach close to 150kph in this configuration! For all its modifications, Hobbs achieved little success at Brooklands, the UK's cathedral of speed in the interwar years, but had better results at the Gatwick Speed Trials. The second owner did win at Brooklands (sans sidecar) in the late 1930s, by which time Moby Dick had recorded a top speed of 126mph (202kph) over a measured mile. The second owner also racked up an impressive 23 speeding tickets on this bike during his ownership!

A succession of owners followed, one of whom converted the gearbox and shifter from three-speed handchange to four-speed footchange after World War II. After being purchased by the second owner's son in the 1980s, Moby Dick was treated to a comprehensive restoration by Brough Superior specialists in 1997. As part of this restoration, the worn twin Amals were replaced with a single carb and the larger 'Eccles' fuel tank was replaced with a correct 1928 item. The quality of the restoration was demonstrated by a slew of trophies and awards that Moby Dick won from 1998 onwards.

The sale included various photos, log books, the removed parts from the restoration and other documents. Though the sale price of $210,500 (including buyer's premium) fell short of the pre-auction $240,000-280,000 estimate, Moby Dick still managed to enter the ranks of the top ten most valuable motorcycles to be sold at auction.