Tag Archives: National Motorcycle Museum

Auction showcasing the essence of Italian design and sprezzatura

Classic vehicle auction house, H&H Classics, is set to sell over 40 classic Italian-made scooters and motorcycles, from 11 different manufacturers, at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, on 12 July.

The highly anticipated auction will bring together a diverse range of 248 motorcycles and scooters with a total estimated value of £1.5 million. A rich heritage of brands such as Ducati, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa, Lambretta, and many more, will take centre stage at the auction.

Among the strong lot line-up is the 1996 Bimota YB11, a rare 1000cc thoroughbred superbike utilising the best of Italian and Japanese engineering of the late 1990s. The YB11 used the iconic Yamaha Thunderace engine in a beautiful twin spar frame, and has an estimated price of £4,500 to £5,500.

Fans of trail bikes will not be disappointed either, the 1973 Moto Guzzi Tuttoterrenois a rare all-terrain trail bike authentically restored back to its original condition. The two stroke, 125cc all-terrain bike is expected to fetch between £2,250 – £2,750.

The 1972 Benelli 125 Sport Special could be an ideal purchase for a buyer looking for a recently restored Italian import. Presented in the trademark metallic green racing colours, this sporty single cylinder motorcycle is expected to reach between £3,500 – £4,500.

Regarded by many as the most beautiful motorbike ever made, the 2000 MV Agusta F4 modern classic could be considered a steal at £7,500 – £8,500. MV Agusta rightly holds legendary status in the motorsport world having won 270 Grand Prix races, 38 World Riders’ Championships and 37 World Constructors Championships.

Those interested in Italian scooters will be excited for the 1966 Lambretta SX225 ‘BelAir 2’ which is argued to be the finest scooter Innocenti ever produced, whereas the 1978 Vespa (Douglas) Rally 200 represents an original scootering icon, with a mere two owners from new.

The hand built 1971 BSA X-75 Hurricane Prototype will also be offered for sale, commanding a price of £28,000 – £32,000 due to its historical significance and scarcity. Just two prototypes were built, but this example has been under sole ownership since 1982.

Mike Davis, motorcycle specialist at H&H Classics, said: “We are excited to present a remarkable collection of motorcycles and scooters at the upcoming National Motorcycle Museum auction. This varied assortment features a range of lots from well-known Italian manufacturers, truly capturing the essence of Italy’s rich motoring heritage. The collection exemplifies the ingenuity and passion that characterises the Italian motorcycle and scooter industry, evoking a variety of emotions and captivating the interest of collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. From iconic scooters that have stood the test of time, to high-performance superbikes, each lot represents a cherished work of craftsmanship and design.”

Bidders and enthusiasts alike can explore the full catalogue of exceptional lots, each with its own distinctive story. Other lots include the prestigious 1949 HRD Black Shadow, which held the title of fastest road vehicle until the early 1960s. Paul Weller’s 1968 Lambretta SX200 will be up for sale, as well as the historically fascinating 1986 Vespa PK125 which belonged to Italian gangster Valerio Viccei.

Interested buyers can participate in the auction both in person at the National Motorcycle Museum, or remotely via online or telephone bidding. Detailed information on the bidding process, registration, and the complete auction catalogue can be found on the official H&H Classics website.

More auction news can be found on our dedicated page here: Motorcycle Auction News

For more info on H&H Classics head to their website: https://www.handh.co.uk/

Two-Wheeled Maserati For Sale For £9,000

Two-wheeled Maserati for sale for £9,000 – £11,000 at the H&H Classics Sale on April 6th at the National Motorcycle Museum.

A rare 1955 Maserati 160T4 will be sold by H&H Classics on Wednesday, 6th April at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull for an estimate of £9, 000 – £11, 000.

Mike Davis, Head of H&H Classics Motorcycles, says: “This rare motorcycle was produced by Maserati in the 1950s. It has been a much loved part of a collection of Italian classics for a number of years and restored by a previous owner with a good degree of originality. It would make a great addition to any collection.”

The bike features Maserati’s own 160cc single cylinder four stroke engine and fitted with a sports seat, alloy rims and period correct tyres. It will need recommissioning. It comes to sale with a current V5C.

Maserati, more famous for manufacturing cars, began their association with two wheels when Carlo Maserati started his engineering career building single cylinder engines to mount on bicycles, working from a workshop just outside Milan.

During the First World War Alfieri Maserati, on completing his military service, set up a spark plug factory in Milan and in 1937 the Orsi family acquired the Maserati concern. When the home market showed signs of an increasing need for cheap motorised transport, especially on two wheels, Maserati decided to enter the motorcycle market by taking over the established Italmoto factory in Bologna. In 1953 all motorcycle production was transferred to the Maserati factory in Modena, with early production of motorcycles consisting of the 160cc four-stroke previously produced by Italmoto but now sporting the Trident logo and renamed the Tipo 160/ T4.

The company established a new department to design and produce their own bikes and the first model, the L/ 125/ T2, was influenced greatly by the German DKW design. Over the following years several new models were introduced with engine sizes varying from 50 cc to 250 cc but in 1957 news of serious financial difficulties within the Orsi group began to leak out. This was followed by the news of Maserati’s withdrawal from Formula One and other official competition. In 1960 the banks decided to ‘pull the plug’, marking the end for motorcycle manufacturing and the Maserati trident would in future only be seen on four wheeled vehicles.

This 1955 160T4 four stroke was restored a few years ago by a previous owner keeping a good degree of originality. Finished in typical Italian red with plenty of aluminium its undoubtedly a very pretty and extremely rare bike with its sports seat and alloy wheel rims. Part of a private collection for a number of years and supplied with a current V5C, it will need some recommissioning before use.

Check their website for more info: https://www.handh.co.uk/