British Broughs headline Shannons Summer sale
• International collector interest already
• ‘No reserve’ Brough Superior
• 1904 Peugeot Autocycle
A pair of highly-desirable British Brough Superior motorcycles from the early 1930s are the standout classics amongst six highly-desirable two wheelers in Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction on December 5.
The highlight of the Broughs is an Australian-delivered, 1933 SS80 that has spent more than 65 years in single family ownership.
Brough Superior is one of the most respected names in motorcycling and the SS80 remains one of the most sought-after of the high quality sporting motorcycles built in Nottingham by George Brough from 1921.
Every Brough Superior was essentially a bespoke motorcycle, built to the customer’s individual requirements and famously earning the company the nickname ‘The Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles’.
A succession of famous customers rode Broughs, including T. E. Lawrence – better known as Lawrence of Arabia.
Powered by specially tuned side-valve J.A.P. engines, the SS80 was guaranteed to reach 80 miles per hour (140km/h), hence its ‘Super Sport 80’ name.
Unfortunately, the SS80 was priced well out of reach for the average motorcyclist, with its £90 asking price then enough to buy a small house in parts of London. In return customers received a beautifully turned out, heavyweight machine featuring bottom link front forks, a fully sprung rear wheel, while a patented rolling stand, a tuned engine and pillion rider footrests were also available.
The long-running SS80 remained in production from 1922 until the outbreak of World War II, with 626 completed using Matchless and J.A.P. engines.
Like Rolls-Royce, the survival rate of Broughs is remarkably good, with an estimated 70 per cent of all SSS80s built still existing in some form or another. As a result, they are now keenly sought out by collectors around the world.
The circa-1933 SS80 being auctioned was equipped with a J.A.P. engine, Castle forks and interchangeable wheels from new and is understood to have been sent to Australia for evaluation by the Victoria Police Force. It was sold subsequently at a public auction after the Police decided its cost was simply too high to justify.
The vendor’s late father tried unsuccessfully to buy the Brough at the sale, but eventually tracked down the buyer and took ownership of the SS80 around 1950, after which he rode the bike on a regular basis for much of his working life.
The Brough has survived in remarkably unspoilt condition and is now offered for sale in ‘project’ condition for the first time in more than 65 years, with Shannons expecting it to appeal to international collectors at its estimated guiding range of $80,000-$100,000.
The other Brough in the auction is a circa-1934 unrestored 11.50 model also offered from long-term family ownership, where it was part of a small collection assembled by the vendor’s father over many years.
While its original motor has been replaced with a similar engine and its Castle forks have also been replaced with non-original equipment, Shannons believe the Brough would make a wonderful restoration project. Equally it could be preserved as is, or mechanically recommissioned but kept in ‘oily rag’ cosmetic condition.
It is being offered with ‘no reserve’ and is expected to sell in the $25,000-$40,000 range.
The other interesting two-wheelers in the December 5 auction – all similarly offered with ‘no reserve’ – are a Swiss-made circa-1932 Motosacoche ($10,000-$15,000), a circa-1950s J.A.P. Speedway 500cc motorcycle ($7,000-$10,000), a circa-1904 Peugeot Autocycle offered in ‘project’ condition ($5,000-$8,000) and a restored 1964 Vespa VBB 150cc Scooter ($3,000-$5,0000).
View all December 5 Shannons Melbourne Summer Auction lots
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