On 21 and 22 April, the largest ever Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale of classic and collectors’ motorcycles will take place at the International Classic MotorCycle Show. The sale has been split in to a two day event to accommodate the astonishing number of machines on offer. More than 300 motorcycles have been consigned – including several single-owner collections – ranging from pre-war American machines to modern Japanese superbikes.
Saturday 21 April
On Saturday at 2pm, the weekend’s marathon sale will begin with an impressive collection of memorabilia and more than 100 lots of spares, including many new old stock items, frames, engines and highly sought-after Vintage spares. A range of important trophies will also be offered, including those won by Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood, two Manx Grand Prix trophies and the seriously rare Air Sea Rescue Vincent Two-stroke 1942 Lifeboat engine.
The Tan House Collection
60 barn find machines, fresh to the market with patina by the bucket load
Following the sale of the spares and memorabilia, Bonhams have great pleasure in offering the Tan House Collection, comprising 60 barn find machines, accumulated by their enthusiast owner over the past three decades. Many are in outstandingly original condition, and all are ripe for restoration. Machines from Britain’s finest manufactures from the 1910’s-1960’s make up the backbone of the collection, with an eclectic mix of European and Japanese lightweights included too.
Highlights include:
1913 Indian 7hp Model E Combination (£16,000-22,000)
c.1913 Matchless 8hp (£10,000-14,000)
1927 Triumph 494cc Model P (£4,000-5,000)
1933 Sunbeam 489cc Lion (£4,000-6,000)
1926 Norton 490cc 16H (£8,000-12,000)
Bill To, department specialist and the consignor of the collection, commented: ‘This is a fantastic collection, and one that we are very proud to offer. It has everything a keen restorer could hope for, and many of the machines are in impressively original condition having been untouched for the past 30 years. This is the finest genuine patina on the market!’
Sunday 22 April
On Sunday, The Miklos Collection will cross the auction block together with 160 further important consignments. The Miklos Collection comprises 41 lots, and is an impressive range of rare and significant motorcycles built up over a lifetime of passionate collecting by the late Miklos ‘Mike’ Salamon. The amazing Surrey-based collection contains some of the most remarkable and sought-after machines available, including a 1970 Clymer Münch 1,177cc TTS ‘Mammoth’ (£75,000-100,000), a 1940 Indian 78ci Four (£28,000-35,000) and a 1973 MV Agusta 750S (£70,000-90,000).
Further highlights of the sale include:
ex-Edinburgh Police, 1931 Brough Superior 981cc SS100 (£170,000-220,000), proceeds of which are to benefit the Search and Rescue Dog association, RNLI and Salvation Army
ex-Cecil Sandford, 1957 Mondial 250 (£80,000-120,000)
1951 Vincent-HRD 998cc Black Shadow Series-C (£60,000-80,000)
1926 Coventry-Eagle 981cc Flying-8 (£45,000-55,000)
The ex-J.D Potts, 1929 Grindlay-Peerless 498cc Brooklands ‘Hundred Model’ (£45,000-50,000)
James Stensel, Bonhams Motorcyles Head of Department (UK) commented: ‘We are delighted to announce another two-day Stafford Sale, to be held on the 21st and 22nd April. Bonhams have long been the auction house of choice for interesting and important one owner collections. The consignment of The Tan House Collection will make for another incredibly diverse Stafford Sale, which has long been Europe’s largest, longest running and record-breaking collectors’ motorcycle auction.’
