Under the Hammer
Top Picks from The Autumn Stafford Sale
Our Autumn Stafford Sale offers no fewer than 300 classic and collectors’ motorcycles, from the Veteran and Vintage eras, through to modern-day superbikes.
We are delighted to be presenting several important single-owner collections which reflect the passions of three very different owners. Ahead of the auction, we asked Motorcycle Specialist Bill To to share his top picks from these outstanding collections.
Lot 484
1911 Pierce 592cc Single.
Lot 484. 1911 Pierce 592cc Single. Estimate: £ 38,000 - 48,000.
Lot 484. 1911 Pierce 592cc Single. Estimate: £ 38,000 - 48,000.
One of the earliest and rarest examples going under the hammer is the 1911 Pierce 592cc Single. Manufactured by the early American automobile manufacturer, the Pierce had a claimed top speed of 55mph. This machine was brought to the UK by a serving Canadian soldier during WWI, left in an outbuilding and never collected. It was then kept in the UK in the ownership of the current vendor since 1996.
Lot 469
C.2 Push Miles From New
1989 Suzuki RG500 Gamma
Lot 469. C.2 Push Miles From New, 1989 Suzuki RG500 Gamma. Estimate: £ 30,000 - 35,000.
Lot 469. C.2 Push Miles From New, 1989 Suzuki RG500 Gamma. Estimate: £ 30,000 - 35,000.
Another highlight of the sale is an ‘as new’ 1989 Suzuki RG500 Gamma. Based on Suzuki’s world championship-winning RG500 racer, the two-stroke Grand Prix replica Gamma remains the closest thing to a Grand Prix motorcycle for the road. This motorcycle offers a 130mph-plus top speed, 11.5-second quarter-mile time, and superlative handling and brakes. This time warp example has only covered two push miles from new.
Unregistered and unused, it is offered with copies of its original paperwork and showing that the machine was invoiced to GS Motorcycles on 7th February 1989. It is also offered with copies of the Owner Registration Card, Warranty Card, Dealer Record, and New Vehicle Licence Application.
The Hans Schifferle Collection
Lot 403
1974 Ducati 750SS
Lot 403. The Hans Schifferle Collection, 1974 Ducati 750ss. Estimate: £ 90,000 - 130,000.
Lot 403. The Hans Schifferle Collection, 1974 Ducati 750ss. Estimate: £ 90,000 - 130,000.
The leading light of a collection offered from the estate of the late German film critic Hans Schifferle is a 1974 Ducati 750SS. The definitive production version of the landmark Ducati which powered Paul Smart to victory at the Imola 200 in 1972, the Ducati 750 SS featured a central-axle fork, Brembo front brakes and a cockpit fairing.
This 1974 launch year motorcycle was acquired by Schifferle in 2002 and has been carefully maintained since. This is an older restoration and is offered with correct numbers and stamps.
Lot 425
1941 Indian 1,279cc Four
Lot 425. The Hans Schifferle Collection, 1941 Indian 1,279cc Four. Estimate: £ 40,000 - 50,000.
Lot 425. The Hans Schifferle Collection, 1941 Indian 1,279cc Four. Estimate: £ 40,000 - 50,000.
Hans was a motorcycle connoisseur who travelled extensively across Europe sourcing original parts for his beloved machines. Another highlight of the impressive 40-strong collection offered in the sale is a 1941 Indian 1,279cc Four. A very late example of one of the world’s most collectable motorcycles, The Four had already been restored when purchased in 2018. Since then, it has been exercised regularly.
The Phil Morris Collection
The Phil Morris Collection offers a selection of rare racing machines collected by a well-known figure in the motorcycle sport paddock and includes no fewer than five examples from the top-flight Moto GP series, which were raced in earnest by top privateer team Paul Bird Motorsport between 2012 and 2014.
Lot 452
Ex-Michael Laverty, Paul Bird Motorsport
2014 PBM-Art 1,000cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle
Lot 452. Ex-Michael Laverty, Paul Bird Motorsport, 2014 PBM-Art 1,000cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle. Estimate: £ 40,000 - 60,000.
Lot 452. Ex-Michael Laverty, Paul Bird Motorsport, 2014 PBM-Art 1,000cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle. Estimate: £ 40,000 - 60,000.
Leading the grid is the ex-Michael Laverty, Paul Bird Motorsport, 2014 PBM-ART 1,000cc Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle. One of two bikes for PBM rider Michael Laverty, who scored nine points that season, this example is powered by a factory-built Aprilia RSV4 engine, with a Moto GP output of 230bhp. It is accompanied by its Moto GP-specification Magneti Marelli electronics, including its ECU which was re-programmed with data from the 2014 season. It also retains its race carbon brake discs, Öhlins forks etc. It is just as it left the racetrack at the end of the 2014 season.
The Property of the Late John Renwick
Lot 434
1950/1951 Vincent 'Prometheus' 1,248cc Series-C Rapide Sidecar Racing Motorcycle
Lot 434. The property of the late John Renwick, 1950/1951 Vincent 'Prometheus' 1,248cc Series-C Rapide Sidecar Racing Motorcycle. Estimate: £ 28,000 - 35,000.
Lot 434. The property of the late John Renwick, 1950/1951 Vincent 'Prometheus' 1,248cc Series-C Rapide Sidecar Racing Motorcycle. Estimate: £ 28,000 - 35,000.
Another collection from the paddock features motorcycles and sidecars, built and campaigned by engineer racer John Renwick. A lifelong Vincent enthusiast, he later built notable successful classic campaigners such as Prometheus, a 1950/1951 Vincent 1,248cc Series-C Rapide Sidecar Racing Motorcycle. With John in the pilot’s seat, the Vincent had various race wins and finished second in the famous Brighton Speed trials in the late 1990s.
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