Author Topic: MECUM vintage MC Auction / Vegas Jan. 2019 (Read 10404 times)

JJ · « **on:** November 21, 2018, 08:00:05 AM »

Yes, almost that time of year once again! A few Guzzi's that SOLD from last January!!

We'll have a Guzzi contingency from Arizona attending as usual...as in "The Usual Suspects!"

LowRyter · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2018, 05:44:01 PM »

There's a good chance I'll make it.

I have not gotten my travel plans worked out but Van Morrison will be in town and I'd like to see his show. Bike auction, Penn and Teller, Van Morrison and I've never been to Vegas. I am about ready to sign up.

Thanks for the head's up JJ

dsrdave · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2018, 06:14:53 PM »

I'd reccomend saving the money on Penn an teller..
I was VERY disappointed. Bronx wanderers is a great show if you like Jersey boys!

jas67 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2018, 06:20:10 PM »

No pics yet for the Moto Guzzi lots, but, there is a 750S!!!!

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2018, 06:20:10 PM »

rschrum · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2018, 09:30:37 PM »

Only Guzzi listed so far is a Centauro. A GT they are calling a sport.

JJ · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2018, 07:57:35 AM »

Quote from: rschrum on November 21, 2018, 09:30:37 PM

Only Guzzi listed so far is a Centauro. A GT they are calling a sport.

Looks like a nice example anyway...Other Guzzi photos will be posted on the MECUM site within the next month...

jas67 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2018, 08:01:43 AM »

Quote from: rschrum on November 21, 2018, 09:30:37 PM

Only Guzzi listed so far is a Centauro. A GT they are calling a sport.

Actually, that's the only one with pics, there are 11 Guzzis listed.

JJ · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2018, 08:33:02 PM »

I suspect within the next 30 days...some of those non-photos will be filled in...

John Ulrich · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2018, 10:58:46 PM »

I just heard that a local MN AMCA member, Jack Crane, is sending is collection to Vegas. He had a last showing today for the club. Top shelf collection with all the top names...Brough Superior etc Here's some pictures I took a few years ago...

jas67 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2018, 07:55:53 AM »

Wow, nice collection? Why selling? Must be sad letting them go.

JJ · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2018, 08:21:42 AM »

Quote from: John Ulrich on November 24, 2018, 10:58:46 PM

I just heard that a local MN AMCA member, Jack Crane, is sending is collection to Vegas. He had a last showing today for the club. Top shelf collection with all the top names...Brough Superior etc Here's some pictures I took a few years ago...

...and we'll be there for the viewing!!

John Ulrich · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2018, 09:56:25 AM »

Quote from: jas67 on November 25, 2018, 07:55:53 AM

Wow, nice collection? Why selling? Must be sad letting them go.

Jack is 88 years young.

published beach poems

I cannot find photo's of the Vincent Black Prince and the Brough. He had probably 24 top shelf collectable cycles.... but not one Guzzi!!!

John Ulrich · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2018, 10:08:59 AM »

I was trying to matchup my photo's with auction listings and come up empty. He's not listed under "Collections" and individual bikes must not have been listed yet? Or the "cream" has been sold off already.

Hit Man · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2018, 03:42:21 PM »

Quote from: John Ulrich on November 25, 2018, 09:56:25 AM

Jack is 88 years young.

published beach poems

I cannot find photo's of the Vincent Black Prince and the Brough. He had probably 24 top shelf collectable cycles.... but not one Guzzi!!!

here ya go:

JJ · « **Reply #14 on:** November 30, 2018, 03:55:44 PM »

"The Rolls-Royce of motorcycles..."

jas67 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 30, 2018, 04:56:47 PM »

Wow, he had some seriously collectable bikes.
Both the Vincents and the Broughs are the holy grail of collectable motorcycles, not to mention just plain cool.

JJ · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2018, 11:15:12 AM »

Just made reservations at The South Point Casino & Resort for two (2) nights - Fri. Jan. 25th and Sat. Jan. 26th!! Last year's Usual Suspects "Group Photo" at the infamous Lobby Bar on Friday - always a tradition, always a party!

screamday · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2018, 12:28:19 PM »

I was originally planning on going to this in January but decided instead to go the Mecum Auto Auction in Kissimmee, FL on 01/04/19 with some close friends.

JJ · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2018, 01:52:26 PM »

Quote from: screamday on December 06, 2018, 12:28:19 PM

I was originally planning on going to this in January but decided instead to go the Mecum Auto Auction in Kissimmee, FL on 01/04/19 with some close friends.

That too, will be a blast! MECUM does it right, classic motorcycles or vintage cars!!

- - and Florida is NICE in January!!

JJ · « **Reply #19 on:** December 08, 2018, 08:40:40 PM »

These Guzzi photos are now posted on the MECUM site...more photos coming by the time the auction starts, the end of January...

SED · « **Reply #20 on:** December 09, 2018, 08:14:18 PM »

Apologies for the cynicism but buyer beware - the auction descriptions can be absolutely false. Most of the text is not about the auction bike anyway - instead it is general info on the marque or the model. Where there is specific info it may be deceptive. Go in person, look and try with a critical eye and don't believe anything they tell you.

This is a shame because there are some really cool bikes.

For example the Dondolino has two paragraphs of info, but only two specific claims:
- Comprehensive restoration
- Found in Italy by Hubert Fehrenbach
Personally I'm much more interested in the "comprehensive restoration" - but there is no info.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/LV0119-362328/1948-moto-guzzi-dondolino/

If you want to see how bad it can be, read the misleading description for the bacon slicer I've been working on.

1933 MOTO GUZZI MODEL 157 from the Mike Doyle Museum Collection:
https://www.mecum.com/lots/HM0414-184668/1933-moto-guzzi-model-157/

HIGHLIGHTS
Engine number V77314
From the Mike Doyle collection
This Moto Guzzi was in proper running condition when placed on display in Mike Doyle's Collection
Appears to be in factory original condition
Rare to find a pre-war Moto Guzzi untouched and this original

It was later sold with the text: "Excellent example of a pre-war Guzzi. Runs very well."

Sounds like a great bike - yes? But it's the very same bacon slicer I've been working on for a year and a half. It was for sale locally and when I went to look I knew it was a GTV so couldn't be from 1933, but that was about it.

"proper running condition"? Just attempting to kickstart the bike proved that wasn't true - valve train was so worn decompressor wouldn't left the valve. Gas and oil tanks leaked, cush drive flopped back and forth, bent handlebar, completely clapped out fork bushings, wrong mainspring, fuel taps clogged by rust, bent pushrod, backfired out carb when warm, geared for 3-speed gearbox, howled in 2nd & 3rd gears, jumped out of 2nd, fouled spark plugs from oversized jets....
(Some of this I didn't find out until later. Even in this condition the engine ran but the bike was so scary to ride I didn't dare even the farm road at the end of the driveway.)

"Appears to be in factory original condition"? Frame is about 1937 with an single exhaust engine from about 1947, wheels - hubs and brakes are probably 1930-33 Sport 15, handle bar is probably from an Ercole 3 wheel truck... (I knew almost nothing of these differences and had little info for evaluating its originality.)

"Rare to find a pre-war Moto Guzzi untouched and this original"? chrome on gas and oil tanks long gone and painted over, dents in gas tank (visible in Mecum photos), spokes painted onto hubs, horrible brazing repair to lower fork legs, wrong exhaust pipe (probably Falcone), wrong headlight, taillight and rear number plate, wiring harness spliced together from pieces... (It had obviously been disassembled for a respray. I assumed

that the person doing the work gave a dam about getting it right on reassembly. No.)

The seller had bought it from "Excellent example of a pre-war Guzzi. Runs very well" without seeing it and was so disgusted it just sat for 2 years then sold at a huge loss. A victim of false advertising.

Not all info will be this misleading, but some will. And if the bike is rare or we don't know much about it, we are really susceptible to it. So get educated, go in person, look and try with a critical eye and don't believe it without evidence you can verify.

SED · « **Reply #21 on:** December 09, 2018, 08:37:05 PM »

Mecum does get some cool bikes - the one I would want and might be able to afford (if I stop spending $ on the slice and eat top ramen all year!) is:

https://www.mecum.com/lots/LV0119-362464/1931-ariel-sg31-sloper/

Only specific information is "older restoration"

and "missing oil pump" and "registered in Sweden on June 19, 1931"

The missing oil pump probably crumbled away. In 1931 Ariel was making oil pumps out of Zamac and zinc pest attacks them (don't know for sure about the sloper, but same year Sq4s have this problem). Only solution would be to adapt a different pump or have one made.

Alas I can't make the auction...

JJ · « **Reply #22 on:** December 10, 2018, 09:16:32 AM »

Whether you buy at an ANY auction.... or from craigslist.... or from a private buyer, "CAVEAT EMPTOR" is always the rule, yes?

Any used bike ALWAYS requires some baseline mecahnical sorting by its new owner to make it safe and right...That's been my experience anyway...

I have been going to the MECUM Auction, (formerly Mid-America), for >20 years...and never bought anything there...and it's just fun to look at all the different vintage bikes from all over the world...

JJ · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2018, 08:39:07 AM »

Coming about a month from now...>1,750 vintage motorcycles FOR SALE!!

(...just sayin'!!!)

JJ · « **Reply #24 on:** December 23, 2018, 08:42:34 AM »

...and it appears that all the Moto Guzzi's for sale are now posted on their website....

Some very nice one's here!!

LowRyter · « **Reply #25 on:** December 23, 2018, 09:17:48 AM »

I see there are actually two auctions. The Bonham auction is Weds and Thursday and Mecom's is over the weekend.

JJ · « **Reply #26 on:** December 23, 2018, 09:51:02 AM »

Quote from: LowRyter on December 23, 2018, 09:17:48 AM

I see there are actually two auctions. The Bonham auction is Weds and Thursday and Mecom's is over the weekend.

Yes, BONHAMS is always BEFORE MECUM's, but it was lame (IMHO) last year, so we will pass this year. Besides, two (2) nights in Vegas is more than enough...believe me!!

LowRyter · « **Reply #27 on:** December 23, 2018, 11:43:08 AM »

If I go, I plan to be there for 4 or 5 nights. I want to see Van Morrison and Penn & Teller. And maybe check out some bikes too.

I saw that Bonhams has 2 Magni Guzzis.

JJ · « **Reply #28 on:** December 24, 2018, 07:20:23 AM »

Quote from: LowRyter on December 23, 2018, 11:43:08 AM

If I go, I plan to be there for 4 or 5 nights. I want to see Van Morrison and Penn & Teller. And maybe check out some bikes too.

I saw that Bonhams has 2 Magni Guzzis.

Hi LowRyter! If you are around Fri. 1/25 @ 3pm, stop by The Lobby Bar at the South Point Hotel & Casino, (where the MECUM auction is held)...for the annual "Usual Suspects Group Photo. I'll buy you a beer or a beverage of your choice...

LowRyter · « **Reply #29 on:** December 24, 2018, 09:47:44 AM »

thanks JJ. I am trying to put some travel plans together. Never been to Vegas and think it might be a hoot.

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Author Topic: MECUM vintage MC Auction / Vegas Jan. 2019 (Read 10404 times)

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