Bonhams: Joey Dunlop’s iconic race-winning Hondas lead the charge, achieving a combined £224,250
Entries Now Invited for Motorcycles Online: The Winter Sale, 5–15 December
Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles Autumn Stafford Sale, held on 12 October at the Staffordshire County Showground in tandem with The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, achieved a remarkable sell-through rate of 98% across 207 lots, with strong demand across all genres and areas of collecting. Competitive bidding was seen throughout, culminating in an overall total of £2,637,585.
A defining highlight of the sale was The Dunlop Family Collection, which featured two of the most significant motorcycles in road-racing history from the legendary ‘King of the Roads’, Joey Dunlop: his 1988 Isle of Man TT-winning Honda RC30 and his 1999 Ulster Grand Prix-winning Honda RC45. Long cherished by the Dunlop family and displayed in Joey’s Bar, Ballymoney, these historic machines marked the final chapter of Dunlop’s extraordinary career. The bikes drew intense international interest and exceeded their intended pre-sale estimates, with the RC30 achieving £132,250 and the RC45 for £92,000.
“The results at this year’s Autumn Stafford Sale reflect not only the strength of today’s collectors and the classic motorcycle market, but also the trust placed in Bonhams to deliver across every lot,” commented Ben Walker, International Department Director of Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles. “The Dunlop bikes brought enormous attention and set a high bar. We now look forward to our next event, Motorcycles Online: The Winter Sale, which is set to feature a diverse selection of collectors’ machines, offering global buyers the opportunity to participate from anywhere in the world.”
Other standout lots in the sale included a 1929 Brough Superior 995cc SS100 ‘JTOR’ which achieved £184,000; a 1937 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide which sold for £181,700; and a 1974 Ducati 750 SS, which realised £103,000.
The sale also showcased five single-owner collections, all of which each achieved white-glove results including, The Robert Lusk Collection, The Bob Howard Collection, The Neil Redley Collection, The Taylor Collection, and The Richard Johns Collection.
Looking ahead, Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles will present its next auction, Motorcycles Online: The Winter Sale, from 5–15 December, which is set to feature a fine line up of machines including: a 1929 Brough Superior Overhead 680 Project, estimated at £20,000 – £30,000; a 1974 Ducati 750SS, estimated at £15,000 – £20,000; and a 1954 Vincent Series-C Black Shadow, estimated at £5,000 – £10,000.
Consignments are now being accepted, with the entry deadline set for 13 November. For more information on the upcoming sale, please visit cars.bonhams.com/motorcyclesonline
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