Superior motorbike sale

[Gob]

A rare motorcycle discovered in a Cornwall barn set a new world record after selling for more than £300,000.



The 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 was one of eight bikes of its type found on Bodmin Moor in December last year.

Together, eight bikes - described by auctioneers Bonhams as the "last known collection of unrestored Broughs" - reached £752,625.

Ben Walker, from Bonhams motorcycle department, described the find as "the motorcycle discovery of the decade".



He said: "They've caused quite a stir in the saleroom, with each one far exceeding estimate, allowing us to break our own world record for a British motorcycle sold at auction."An unnamed German bidder paid £331,900 for the 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4.

Brough Superior motorcycles were built in Nottingham, at founder George Brough's factory in Haydn Road
Built in the 1920s and 1930s, they were known as the Rolls Royce of motorcycles and used by celebrated riders such as TE Lawrence
British Army officer Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, owned eight Brough Superior bikes
Only ten BS4 models (aka Brough Superior 'four cylinder') were built, and only seven survive
TE Lawrence was killed in 1935 riding an SS100 he had named George VII

The bikes, known as the Broughs of Bodmin Moore, had been stored in barns for more than 50 years and were found "submerged under decades of dust, old machinery parts and household clutter".

The motorcycles, which date from between 1926-1939, were collected by Frank Vague, who died in 2015.

[RayThom]

My father, a Grenoside native, owned a 1932 Brough Superior "BS4" with a 750cc Austin car engine until he enlisted in the British Merchant Navy in '38. Many years later, after settling in the USA, he found out that it was one of only 10 built. If he were alive today I'm sure he'd have a heart attack finding out it is now worth $500,000 USD.

[Burning Petard]

ten built and seven still around?! Sounds like excellent survivor rate. Among cars I am guessing only the Bugatti Royale could match that.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I so want to ride that bike.

[MG McAnick]

With the front to back layout of the engine, I'll bet the torque that was constantly trying to lay one down was far worse than one of my BMWs. That, coupled with a 1930s design and tyres, probably made them very difficult to ride well. Is it any wonder T. E. Lawrence had his issue with one?