2:58 AM
The Vintagent's 'Top 20' represents the only reliable source tracking the ever-rising prices of la créme de la créme of motorcycling. This list is continually updated as new machines enter the Pantheon; while several motorcycles have recently sold for over $.5Million (the 'Rollie Free' Vincent, an AJS 'Porcupine', etc), only public auction sales are verifiable...all else is rumor!
Price conversions are based on the exchange rate on the day of sale - the only accurate way to compare fluctuating international exchange rates. Of course, this can lead to a confusing situation, as with our 'Top 2' machines, which swap places depending on fluctuations in currency exchange rates. In the end, I went with the currency used on the day of the auction.
The #2 BMW 'Kompressor' was sold by Bonhams auctions the day after their 2013 Las Vegas sale, but is nonetheless a verifiable auction house sale, to which auction fees were added, and is subject to public (and tax!) scrutiny.
TOP 20 MOTORCYCLE PRICES AT AUCTION
(Updated June 5th, 2013)
1. 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer - $551,200 £275,600
July 2008, Monterey, MidAmerica
2. 1939 BMW RS255 'Kompressor' - $480,000 £300,000
January 2013, Las Vegas, Bonhams
3. 1929 Brough Superior SS100 - £286,000 $465,350
Oct.22, 2010, Sparkford, HandH Auctions
4. 1926 Brough Superior SS100 'Alpine Grand Sports' - £280,800 $453,000
Oct 31, 2012, Battersea, RM Auctions
5. 1934 Brough Superior SS100 'Two of Everything' - £242,300 $393,400
April 2012, Stafford, Bonhams
6. 1932 Brough Superior 'BS4' 3-Wheel Austin-engine - £246,400 $377,950
April 2013, Imperial War Museum, HandH
7. 1948 Vincent-HRD 'Black Lightning' - £246,000 $377,260
April 2013, Imperial War Museum, HandH
8. 1938 HRD-Vincent Series A Rapide - £225,500 $366,110
April 2012, Stafford, Bonhams
9.1949 Vincent Black Lightning Supercharged - £221,500 $383,400
October 2008, Stafford, Bonhams
10. 1907 Harley Davidson 'Strap Tank' Single - $352,000 £186,560
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
11. 1939 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide - £198,400 $347,200
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams
12. 1929 Brough Superior SS100 'Moby Dick' - £210,000 $330,000
October 2011, Stafford, Bonhams
13. 2010 Ducati GP10 CS1 - e251,500 $320,000
May 2012, Monaco, RM Auctions
14. 1927 Zenith-JAP 8/45hp - £177,500 $312,986
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams
15. 2011 Ducati GP11 VR2 e245,700 $312,500
May 2012, Monaco, RM Auctions
16. 1940 Crocker 'Big Tank' twin - $302,000 £192,374
August 2012, Quail Lodge, Bonhams
17. 1937 Crocker 'Small Tank' twin - $302, 000 £192,374
August 2012, Quail Lodge, Bonhams
18. 1915 Iver Johnson twin - $299,600 £193,841
January 2012, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
19. 1934 Brough Superior 996cc SS100 - £166,500 $293.589
April 2008, Stafford, Bonhams
20. 1937 Crocker 'Small Tank' twin - $291,000 £185,367
August 2012, Quail Lodge, Bonhams
THE STATISTICS:
11 of the top sellers are British, 6 are from the USA, 2 are from Italy, and one from Germany. Six of these bikes were racing machines. 18 are large-capacity v-twins. 14 would have been called 'powerful luxury motorcycles' when new. All of them were extremely low-volume production models, or factory racing specials.
By decade; 1 from the 1900s, 2 from the 'Teens, 2 from the 20's, 10 from the '30's, 3 from the 40's, and two from the 2010s.
Twelve of the top 20 machines were sold by Bonhams, 1 by MidAmerica, 1 by Gooding and Co, 3 by RM Auctions, 3 by HandH.
Three of these machines were sold in 2013, eight in 2012, two in 2011, one in 2010, five in 2008, one in 2006. The general trend seems 'up' as the disastrous 2009 recedes, with 2012 the strongest year ever, and 2013 still has a few auctions to go...we'll see!
By Marque:
6 Brough Superiors
5 Crockers
4 Vincent-HRDs
1 Harley Davidson
1 Zenith
1 Cyclone
1 Iver Johnson
1 BMW
ADDENDUM:
Below are a few former 'Top 20's which have been recently bumped down the list. I add these simply for interest, to note trends in the market. Tastes change, certain machines climb in value while others decline, or fail to rise as quickly, or simply haven't come up for sale in recent years. There hasn't been a major Japanese racing multi-cylinder four-stroke at auction in many years...
21. 1954 AJS Porcupine - £163,600 $288,475
April 2000, Stafford, Bonhams
22. 1939 Brough Superior SS100 - $280,400 £181,420
January 2011, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
23. 1937 Crocker 'Hemi-Head' - $276,000 £144,350
November 2006, Los Angeles, Bonhams
24. 1929 Scott Flying Squirrel 600cc ex.Steve McQueen/Von Dutch - $276,000 £168,360
June 2009, New York, Antiquorum
25. 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 - £151,100 $264,400
September 2008, New Bond St, Bonhams
26. 1938 Brough Superior SS100 - £157,700 $255,900
April 2010, Stafford, Bonhams
27. 1941 Crocker Big Tank - $243,800
January 2007, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
29. 1939 Crocker 'Small Tank' twin - $236,500
Oct. 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
30. 1939 Crocker V-Twin Big Twin - $233,200
January 2008, Las Vegas, MidAmerica
31. 1954 BMW RS54 - £143,000 $232,000
Oct. 22, 2010, Haynes, HandH
32. 1924 Montgomery-Anzani 8/38hp V-Twin £109,300 $192,702
April 2006, Stafford, Bonhams
33. 1911 Harley Davidson 7D Twin $187,000
October 21, 2006, Gooding and Co.
Posted in: AJS, Bmw, brough superior, Coventry Eagle, Crocker, Cyclone, Ducati, Harley Davidson, Iver Johnson, Scott, TOP 20 AUCTION PRICES, vincent, zenith
