Vincents call the tune at H&H’s inaugural Duxford

People like ‘barn finds’. They stir the imagination and, more importantly, frequently present collectors with a prime restoration project – a machine that has stood untouched for years, stands a good chance of being especially original.

Such was the 1954 Vincent Series C V-twin Rapide in H&H’s inaugural Duxford Imperial War Museum motorcycle and bicycle sale of October 10. Though apparently only lacking the dynamo drive cover, it nevertheless was in need of a total restoration, yet was so stunningly original and unmolested that it made £18,700!

Also on offer was a 1952 Vincent Rapide rolling chassis and this too attracted considerable interest, eventually changing hands for £8,250. The complete and very pretty single-cylinder 1950 Vincent Comet was on the money at £8,800 – further proof, if proof were needed, that buyers generally want either good restoration projects or nicely restored/maintained examples. Anything in between is likely to be harder to sell these days. That said, there is always demand for something rare and special and the 2006 Godet-Vincent Black Shadow made £23,650.

More apparent confirmation of a trend, was the excellent £14,575 achieved for the beautifully turned out 1963 BSA Goldstar Clubman – these much admired British classics are on the up. The prize for the sale’s most eye-catching entry went to the 1917 Indian Powerplus. Nicely presented in Indian’s traditional bright red with gold lining, it found a new home for £18,700.

The highest price paid at this sale was for the 2005 Bimota Tesi 2D – in as new condition, it changed hands for £25,300. Far more affordable, but great results in their own way were: the ‘barn (or shed to be precise!) find’ 1921 Calthorpe, and the very tidy 1939 Scott Autocycle that made £2,530.

Going in cycles

H&H are gaining quite a reputation for their bicycle sales and their specialist Paul Adams put together a tremendous selection of machines for this auction. Topping the results at £3,080, was an 1890 Guest & Barrow Solid Tyre Safety from a museum collection. The beautifully aged 1870 Velocipede ‘Boneshaker’ made £1,100 and the ‘No Reserve’ c.1895 Singer Superb Roadster fetched £550.

The next H&H sale of motorcycles, bicycles, registrations and automobilia will take place in Buxton on November 20/21. Further information on all H&H sales is available at classic-auctions.com.