Its just killing me. I'm not going to be in
Paris for Rétromobile, or the
Bonhams auction at the Grand Palais, the most spectacular auction venue in the world. Instead, I'll be in SoCal, for
Conrad Leachs' show, the Rin Tanaka's I
nspiration show at the Queen Mary, and to do some riding with Jérome and Dimitri Coste, and Conrad. A fair trade? Would that all the above were in Paris!
But, if you haven't checked over the
Bonhams Grand Palais sale list, it's worth a linger, as there's some really tasty machinery. Top of the list, perhaps not historically, but in terms of sheer sex appeal, is
this original 1968 Egli Vincent, which I commented on for
Megadeluxe, and was then picked up by BikeExif. Just about the fastest and best handling road bike of the late 1960s; truly the King of the Road. And, not a recent build, but an original, built by sidecar racer Pete Gerrish, using a frame and wheels bought directly from Fritz Egli in 1968. It won first time out on the race track, and its no wonder - there was nothing out there to touch it for sheer speed in '68. One can dream... but
one will buy.
Garellis aren't that well known in the US, but every young rider of a certain age (late 60s thru 70s) in Europe lusted after their hotrod lightweights, which were also racking up track success, and knocking back World Records for lightweight machines.
The above machine set a 24-hour World Record for 50cc bikes, at 67.59mph in 1963, which still stands today! How many opportunities to buy a World Record holder have you been offered recently? This machine has the perfect combination of a cobby, handbuilt feel, and a complete absence of a 'restorer's' ruinous touch. It is simply remarkable, regardless of capacity. A 23-machine Garelli collection of GP racers and record-breakers are going under the hammer...all of them are worth a look.
My favorite machine in the sale is this
1926 Garelli 350cc split-single two stroke GP racer, the ultimate version of a long line of split-singles from the marque, which were very successful racers and record-breakers, typically bagging records in all capacities up to 1000cc! This machine speaks to the Romantic era of motorcycle racing in Italy in the 1920s, when Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi were racing Sunbeams, Bianchis, and Garellis, before taking up four-wheel racing, and like John Surtees, becoming champions on two and four wheels.
Read more on the era here...If you make it to Paris, send me photos!
8:44 AM
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