Shannons Spring Sale Auctions bring in record numbers
The Shannons COVID-19 response of timed online auctions is going from strength to strength, with the Spring sale on November 18 delivering a $6.4 million outcome, with 95 percent of all 175 lots sold. A highlight of the online sale was the $272,400 result achieved by the six very rare early motorcycles.
The c1906 Zenith Bi-Car motorcycle sold with ‘no reserve’ for $100,500.
The bikes were in the Victorian ‘Warren Hicks Collection’, all offered with ‘no reserve’ and in ‘project’ condition. The absolute standout of the six was a c1906 Zenith Bi-Car motorcycle, a true survivor offered in ‘barn find’ condition. Not seen in public since 1974 and with mythical status in International motorcycle circles, it was pursued by a number of enthusiasts before more than doubling its pre-sale estimate to sell for $100,500.
Also appealing to serious collectors was a complete circa-1914 American Excelsior with a 1,000cc V-Twin engine and a world-first two-speed motorcycle gearbox with its left handlebar grip operating its clutch. Although not run since 1978, it sold for $40,700.
The 1914 Excelsior 1000cc also sold for big numbers in “project” condition.
From the same collection, a very rare four-cylinder early single-speed, shaft-drive circa-1910 FN ‘Four’, with a great local history and presented in complete, but ‘project’ condition, sold for $54,800. An unreserved c1922 Berlin-built CITO-KG motorcycle also made $45,500 and an exceptionally rare circa-1922 Stanger V-Twin 538cc ‘two-stroke’ motorcycle – one of just two known survivors worldwide out of just 20 made – changed hands for $30,900.
Black and white Heritage numerical number platers continued their popularity with collectors and investors, with the 21 on offer collectively selling for nearly $1.8 million. The top priced plate was the Victorian ‘477’ – one of seven three-digit plates in the auction – that brought $152,000, while the best-priced Heritage NSW plate was ‘4.466’ at $110,000. The best result for a four-digit Victorian plate was $85,000 for ‘2.021’.
