Secret cache of Brough Superiors discovered in the UK
http://autoweek.com/article/auctions/secret-cache-brough-superiors-discovered-uk#ixzz3vrSK74ZE
Bonhams to offer eight Superiors in project condition at April auction
Often referred to as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles, a comparison first voiced by H.D. Teague of The Motor Cycle newspaper, Brough Superiors were some of the best engineered and painstakingly assembled motorcycles of their day. Lawrence of Arabia was a fan, owning eight of them, and died after an accident on one which only added to their legend. These British motorcycles, whose production hit its peak in the 1920s, were expensive when new and remain highly sought-after to this day, even though they've enjoyed very good survivability for any pre-war motorcycle. That survivability partially rests in the relatively small production output: of some 3,048 made about a thousand still exist.
But a recent discovery is bound to increase their number by an appreciable number -- a cache of Superiors has just been located in Cornwall, UK.
Eight motorcycles have been discovered in several barns located in the village of Bodwin Moor; examples from the 1926 model SS100 to the 1938 model SS80 with a sidecar.
"This is one of the greatest motorcycle discoveries of recent times," said Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Collectors' Motorcycle Department. "A lot of mystery surrounds these motorcycles, as very few people knew that they still existed, many believing them to be an urban myth. There was a theory that they still existed somewhere in the West Country, but few knew where, until now."
All are in project condition, having been discovered under a significant amount of dust and household objects, having been locked away for over 50 years. The late owner of the motorcycles, a Mr. Frank Vague, was known as an avid member of the Brough Superior Club, but until recently there had only been rumors of these motorcycles existing somewhere in the west of England.
"This is the last known collection of unrestored Brough Superiors; there will not be another opportunity like this," added Walker. "Only eight four-cylinder machines were built, and the example in this collection is the final one to be re-discovered."
The eight survivng Superiors, which were found either in whole or in parts, include the following (Bonhams estimates in parentheses, rounded to the nearest thousand dollars).
-- 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 ($120,000 -- $178,000)
-- 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS100 Project ($90,000 -- $120,000)
-- 1926 Brough Superior SS100 ($45,000 -- $60,000)
-- 1938 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project with Petrol Tube Sidecar ($33,000 -- $48,000)
-- 1939 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project ($30,000 -- $45,000)
-- 1938 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50HP Project ($24,000 -- $33,000)
-- 1937 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project ($9,000 -- $12,000)
-- 1936 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 Project ($9,000 -- $12,000)
Bonhams has not created detailed listings and descriptions for the eight that will be up for auction, though that will be available closer to the auction date. The Spring Stafford Sale is scheduled for Apr. 24 in the UK.
