On October 13th, H and H Classics is auctioning off a whole bunch of bikes – and a staggering percentage of them are quite nice! Come peruse with me…
You should remember the drill. Below are some I’ve found interesting – and here’s a link to the entire list of offerings.
1921 Quadrant 500cc – Estimate: $9,200. Formed in 1901 (and out of business in 1928), Quadrant was one of the first British motorcycle manufacturers. They started with a Minerva clipon engine but just a year into production and they were making their own engines as well as bespoke frames designed to hold the engines, not just throwing them on bicycle frames. During WWI they stopped production to making engine parts for airplanes, and the company struggled with motorcycle production after the war was over.
1967 Benelli GP 500 Replica – Estimate $92,000.
1967 Aermacchi Ala D’oro Replica – Estimate $12,150. A replica of a bike that unfortunately never won a World Championship race (but did come in 2nd several times), this 350cc was apparently purchased at a ‘race meeting’ at Imola. It was last raced 5 years ago.
1959 Royal Enfield Crusader Airflow – estimate $3,800. Enfield had some success with the 250cc Crusader in the 60s, and one of the rare variants was the “Airflow”, named for the gigantic fairing. This example is claimed to be excellent after a restoration.
1955 NSU Sportmax – estimate $57,000. I’m in love with dustbin fairings.
1995 AJR TSS 350 – estimate $19,750. AJR (named for Armando Moli and Javier Perez, the R was for replica) builds modern reproductions of the legendary production racer Bultaco TSS 350. At least as of 2007, they were still available directly from AJR. With modern 2 stroke technology, this bike yielded 15 extra horsepower (up to 57) with much higher reliability levels.
1950 Brockhouse Corgi – estimate $3,300. A civilian version of the Excelsior Villiers Welbike, the Corgi was produced between 1948 and 1954 – 27,050 units were created. This is a Mk 2 so it has a kick start (the Mk 1 had to be bump started) and two clutches. Some were exported to the US and branded the Indian Papoose, and there was even an optional front fairing and a sidecar.
1931 Montgomery Greyhound TT Replica – estimate $20,500. The Greyhound was Montgomery’s top of the line bike, with a 680cc v-twin engine. Syd Jackson won TT races in the Lightweight, Junior, and Senior races on Montgomerys so the firm marketed that “TT experience has been utilised in the design of all Montgomery frames and forks, and comfortable riding positions with easy steering have been attained.’ This is a numbers matching example that was restored and recently won at an unnamed show for “Best Restored Bike”.
And finally, the crown jewel of the offerings: – 1956 BMW Rennsport RS500 Type 256 – estimate $260,000. One of just eight works “Type 256” racers made by BMW, these bikes had several upgrades over the Type 253 racers (of which 25 were made). The 256 had some notable success thanks to Walter Zeller, who won several German championships and took 2nd in the World Championship in 1956 behind John Surtess with a MV Agusta.
Again, to see the full list, head on over here.
This bike-uriousity brought to you by George H!