World Class Vintages to put away at Shannons Melbourne Spring Auction
• Very known and well travelled 1925 Bentley 3-litre
• 'Barnfind’ c1927 Harley-Davidson 8-Valve Racer
Two stunning early sporting vehicles – a very well travelled and collectible 1925 Bentley 3-litre Tourer and a very rare c1927 Harley-Davidson 8-Valve Racer with Sidecar – are special ‘Vintages’ that collectors around the world will want to put away at Shannons Melbourne Spring Auction on September 21.
The ‘Blue-Label’ Bentley, chassis number ST990, is a well-known vehicle in world Bentley circles, having travelled extensively in Australia and Internationally since the completion of its lengthy and comprehensive restoration in Australia in the early 2000s.
It was delivered new to Melbourne with a Gurney-Nutting four-seat touring body, but was re-bodied early in its life by Melbourne coachbuilder Jas Thomson, whose plate its body still carries today.
Its current owner had only one thing in mind when he took on the restoration of Chassis ST990 after he purchased it in 1993 and that was to take it in as many Bentley Drivers Club touring events as possible around the world.
Many of these were Vintage Bentley-only events in which the drivers emulate the derring-do lifestyles of the original ‘Bentley Boys’ of yesteryear, with scarves flying and ‘stirrup cup’ celebrations at day’s end.2
True to this gregarious tradition, Chassis ST990’s adventures have seen it travel through 12 European countries in 2004, cross Australia from Perth to Brisbane in 2005, take part in two rallies in New Zealand in 2006, cross South Africa from coast to coast in 2007 and, most recently, visit 11 European countries as part of a further 12,000km tour in 2014 – not bad for a 80 year-old car!
This makes ST990 arguably one of the world’s most travelled Bentley Tourers.
During its most recent European odyssey, the Bentley carried a tent on its running board to provide overnight accommodation as its owners moved from event to event, taking part in everything ranging from a luxury car gathering in St.Moritz to camping trackside for the 2014 Le Mans Classic.
The car’s enthusiast owner has assured Shannons that the modifications made to the Bentley to prepare it for its International escapades can easily be removed should the new owner wish to bring it back to original condition.
Because of this well-known 3-litre Bentley’s collectability and exceptional provenance, Shannons expect it to appeal to International cache of Bentley enthusiasts and are quoting a conservative $350,000-$420,000 guiding range.
Equally exciting for Vintage motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide is a ‘barnfind’ c1927 Harley-Davidson with Sidecar that is being offered for sale by the late owner’s family after being locked away in dry storage for the last 50 years.
Reportedly delivered new through Milledge Brothers of Melbourne, the 8-Valve Racer is one of the rarest and most collectible models in International Harley circles, as these powerful bikes were only offered to up and coming racers of the times and were not available to the general public.
Because of its rarity and collectible value, Shannons expect this very desirable Harley-Davidson to be pursued by collectors around the world and are expecting it to sell well into the six-figure area.
