H&H Duxford Sale

October 2015

BMW Rennsport | DKW SS250 | X-75 Hurricane
 

If you're headed for the Classic Motorbike Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on the 13th - 15th November 2015, you might want to check out Comet Classic Motorcycles' stand.

That's a 1956 BMW Rennsport RS500 Type 256 immediately above. The bike (Lot 54) will be auctioned on Tuesday 13th October 2015 at H&H's Duxford Sale, and they're anticipating around £160,000 - £180,000.

We're advised that just six of these motorcycles were built by the factory, specifically by Rupert Bauer using an ex-Siegfried Schauzu factory short-stroke five-speed engine. Noted racer Walter Zellor finished 2nd in the 1956 500cc World Championship astride one of these bikes. The present owner has had his mitts on the Beemer for the past 40 years, and it's time to move it along. This BMW, by the way, is carrying the highest estimate of any machine in the sale.

The next contender is this (immediately above) 1938 DKW SS250 racing split-single (Lot 36). We've seen it before, and in recent history. Look back at Sump April 2014 and you can read about H&H's hopes of flogging this machine. But in the event, no one was interested enough and it didn't sell.

Back then, the estimate was £110,000 - £120,000. This time, H&H is being far more cautious and is estimating £80,000 - £100,000, which is a massive lowering of expectations. Of course, it might be that the earlier, 2014 estimate was simply wildly optimistic. Or it might be yet another indicator that the world economy is still locked in a deepening rut and taking the classic bike market with it. Recession proof? Hah.

We hate to talk things down, you understand. But you have to balance hope with realism. And that's why we'll be watching this sale extra carefully and looking to glean whatever useful intelligence is available (not that we're always sober enough to know what to do with useful intelligence).

Meanwhile, here's some other shiny and rusty stuff coming up at the Duxford Sale that's caught our greedy eyes.

At the lower end, this (above) 1966 150cc Honda C95 is estimated to sell at £800 - £1,200. It looks complete, but it will need re-commissioning. Sneer if you want, but these stylish OHC, 4-speed twins have aged well and look better and better each year. And they're quite perky too and, in their day, were well equipped and very competitively priced. There are still a few kicking around, and they help put lie to the notion that Japanese bikes don't last. They certainly do if you look after them (and okay, if you leave them in a warm and dry shed for 30 or 40 years). Overall, this one looks like a running restoration. Or, better still, leave well alone and just make it rideable. We like it plenty. Google "David Silver Spares". He'll be a useful bloke to talk to for bits and advice. But go easy on the advice requests. The man's got to make a living, you know?

Next, we can always find a place in our hearts, garages and bedrooms for an X-75 Triumph Hurricane, and this 750cc hunk of garish bling looks sorted. It was restored in 2014 by 3D Motorcycles, and is offered with a Hurricane book signed by Hurricane designer, Craig Vetter. Around 1,200 examples were manufactured (of which around only 2,000 survive, to recycle an old gag). And they look almost as good with a Triumph engine installed as opposed to the standard Rocket Three lump.

Yes, it's s pretty stupid, pointless and impractical bike really. But if you really have to show-off outside your local girl's college, this transport of delight could help open a few doors (and not just doors). It's Lot 95, and the estimate is £15,000 - £16,000.

Now, a couple of seasons back we saw a few Hurricanes change hands for over £18,000. Allegedly change hands, that is. Naturally, we're taking the vendors at their word. X-75s looked set for £20,000 plus. So H&H's estimate could be viewed as a little conservative. And you can read what you want into that. We'll see what's what on Tuesday.

Beyond this, there's Lot 81, a 1958 Ducati GP125 estimated at £60,000 - £70,000 (no image). We perhaps ought to be more excited by this bike, but classic Dukes still haven't honked our horns. Maybe later, huh?

We're also watching this 1955 NSU Sportmax (Lot 63) estimated at £35,000 - £40,000. It's number 6 of 36 built. George Beale, we understand, restored this silver machine 20 years ago, and it probably hasn't been doing much since. Certainly not racing in anger. It's not that we especially like it, take note. And neither do we dislike it. We just think it could be another useful indicator of what's happening in the classic market and where the money's going. Or not going.

Overall, there are 104 motorcycle lots in this sale. Get along there if you've got a spare day. Sudden death of a favourite uncle is a good excuse for your boss. And need we remind you that Duxford, in Cambridgeshire, is a pretty cool place to hang out on any day of the week? It's a living, working air museum, and the biggest in Europe. We were there just a few weeks ago inspecting the troops, and we can report that it looks better than ever with some new and stunning exhibits. And the auction could be fun too.

www.classic-auctions.com

— Girl Happy