£1 million Bonhams auction at Stafford

1952 Vincent Black Shadow. Pic: Double Red

A Vincent Black Shadow that formed part of a bid by the factory to set a new 24 hour speed record in 1952 is among £1 million worth of lots already consigned for the annual sale. Although mechanical failures prevented the bid at Montlhery, France in May 1952 from being successful, the British team numbers machine has been owned by the current vendor for more than 40 years and is offered with a pre-sale estimate of £110,000 to £130,000.

Among other machines consigned to the Bonhams sale is a trio of Brough motocycles – two from a single owner collection, a rare factory-restored 1957 Ariel Square Four 4GMk.2 (estimate £12,000-£14,000) and a 1988 Norton Classic rotary – number ‘51’ of the 100 built – that has only covered 1500 miles from new (estimate £8,000 – £10,000).

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Ben Walker, head of the Bonhams motorcycle department said: “We are very much looking forward to the first UK sale of the year at the International Classic MotorCycle Show. It has been an excellent start to 2013 for the department, which recorded its most successful sale in Las Vegas in January and more than doubled its previous sale total in Paris earlier this month. We hope to continue this run of success at the first of our two annual sales in Stafford. We are delighted to be able to offer such a wide and eclectic range of important motorcycles at what has traditionally been a very successful sale.”

At Stafford show
Additional to the Bonhams auction there are over 500 autojumble and trade stands, over 70 club stands and hundreds and hundreds of classic motorcycles to pore over, many fully restored to better than new condition, while others are projects awaiting inspiration, often for sale. There are also trials demonstrations, the ever popular Classic Racer GP paddock, where iconic (and mostly unsilenced!) motorcycles are fired up. And to top it all our guest of honour this year is eight times world champion Phil Read, who will be on stage twice on the Saturday and Sunday, as well as present at the GP paddock for autograph signings.

We'll be reporting on the show throughout the day on the CBC website, and you can follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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? Stafford show information
? Image galleries and videos

Saturday schedule
09.00 Gates open
10.00 Bonhams sale open for viewing*
10.15 Mick Andrews Technical Tips & Trials school with Tim Britton, CDB editor, and Yrjo Vesterinen outside the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
10.30 Dales Classic – Trials Demonstration at the side of the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
11.00 World Champion Phil Read on stage in the Main Hall
12.00 Firing up the legends in the Classic Racer GP Paddock, with Phil Read signing autographs
13.00 On stage with the off road stars in the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
14.00 Dales Classic – Trials Demonstration at the side of the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
15.00 Firing up the legends in the Classic Racer GP paddock with Phil Read signing autographs
16.00 Phil Read on stage in the Main Hall
18.00 Gates close
* Bonhams catalogue needed

Sunday schedule
09.00 Show opens
09.00 Bonhams sale open for viewing*
10.00 Mick Andrews Technical Tips & Trials school with Tim Britton, CDB editor, outside the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
10.30 Bonhams motorcycle auction commences *
10.30 Dales Classic – Trials Demo at the side of the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
11.00 World Champion Phil Read on stage in the Main Hall
12.00 Firing up the legends in the Classic Racer GP Paddock, with Phil Read signing autographs
13.30 Mick Andrews Technical Tips & Trials school with Tim Britton, CDB editor, outside the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
14.00 Dales Classic – Trials Demo at the side of the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
15.00 Firing up the legends in the Classic Racer GP paddock with Phil Read
16.00 Trophy presentation on stage in Main Hall with Phil Read
17.00 Gates close
* Bonhams catalogue needed