Friday, January 7, 2011

LAS VEGAS DAY 1, CONTINUED

Alain deCadenet and Malcolm Barber discuss a '67 Velocette Thruxton, which sold for $25,000, not including buyer's premium.  Total sales for the day were $2.5Million.
A capacity crowd made for lively bidding, but 200+ bikes makes for a long day, and the crowd had thinned appreciably by the end of the evening. 
1975 Ducati 750SS, 'square case'.  Lovely machine.
A very rare Norton 'Hi-Riser' Commando 850cc.  When new, everyone threw out that seat and the handlebars...
Groovy original '74 Honda chopper.
Equally groovy 1895 Hildebrand and Wolfmuller, which sold for $140k+.
The 1911 Marvel was just that - the last motorcycle designed by Glenn Curtiss, who had already moved on to aircraft building. 
I thought initially this was a desmodromic valve system; both valves are positively opened have a controlled closing by a single push-pull rod from the timing chest.  The two-way rocker arm worked both valves.
The steel petrol and oil tanks were part of the frame.  It sold for $45,000.
The new owner of the BMW R51RS, who looks just a bit stunned to have paid $130,200 for his new bike (inclusive of buyer's premium). 
A Shriner's Honda 305cc Dream, complete with ceremonial sword.