Bonhams Autumn Stafford sale Delivers Strong Results Totaling £2.6 Million

Joey Dunlop’s iconic race-winning Hondas lead the charge,
achieving a combined £224,250  

Entries Now Invited for Motorcycles Online:
The Winter Sale, 5–15 December  

STAFFORD, UK – October 22, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) –  Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles Autumn Stafford Sale, held on 12 October at the Staffordshire County Showground in tandem with The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, achieved a remarkable sell-through rate of 98% across 207 lots, with strong demand across all genres and areas of collecting. Competitive bidding was seen throughout, culminating in an overall total of £2,637,585.   

A defining highlight of the sale was The Dunlop Family Collection, which featured two of the most significant motorcycles in road-racing history from the legendary ‘King of the Roads’, Joey Dunlop: his 1988 Isle of Man TT-winning Honda RC30 and his 1999 Ulster Grand Prix-winning Honda RC45. Long cherished by the Dunlop family and displayed in Joey’s Bar, Ballymoney, these historic machines marked the final chapter of Dunlop’s extraordinary career. The bikes drew intense international interest and exceeded their intended pre-sale estimates, with the RC30 achieving £132,250 and the RC45 for £92,000.   

“The results at this year’s Autumn Stafford Sale reflect not only the strength of today’s collectors and the classic motorcycle market, but also the trust placed in Bonhams to deliver across every lot,” commented Ben Walker, International Department Director of Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles. “The Dunlop bikes brought enormous attention and set a high bar. We now look forward to our next event, Motorcycles Online: The Winter Sale, which is set to feature a diverse selection of collectors’ machines, offering global buyers the opportunity to participate from anywhere in the world.”  

Other standout lots in the sale included a 1929 Brough Superior 995cc SS100 ‘JTOR’ which achieved £184,000; a 1937 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-A Rapide which sold for £181,700; and a 1974 Ducati 750 SS, which realized £103,000.   

The sale also showcased five single-owner collections, all of which each achieved white-glove results including, The Robert Lusk Collection, The Bob Howard Collection, The Neil Redley Collection, The Taylor Collection, and The Richard Johns Collection.  

Looking ahead, Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles will present its next auction, Motorcycles Online: The Winter Sale, from 5–15 December, which is set to feature a fine line up of machines including: a 1929 Brough Superior Overhead 680 Project, estimated at £20,000 – £30,000; a 1974 Ducati 750SS, estimated at £15,000 – £20,000; and a 1954 Vincent Series-C Black Shadow, estimated at £5,000 – £10,000.  

Consignments are now being accepted, with the entry deadline set for 13 November. For more information on the upcoming sale, please visit cars.bonhams.com/motorcyclesonline 

Sale: The Autumn Stafford Sale
Location: Stafford, UK
Date: 12 October

ABOUT BONHAMS|CARS MOTORCYCLES  

Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles is the auction house of choice for the sale of important collectors’ motorcycles and single-owner collections. Renowned for achieving world record prices across the board, the Motorcycles division at Bonhams|Cars consistently delivers the highest sell-through rates in the industry at an average of 94% sold by lot and value.     

Live and online motorcycle auctions are presented by Bonhams|Cars, the dedicated platform characterised by levels of trust, reliability, and transparency born of over three decades of experience as the premier automotive auction house. As part of the Bonhams global network of auction houses, Bonhams Motorcycles benefits from an unrivaled global reach and a name that’s been synonymous with expertise and quality for hundreds of years.     

Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles has set multiple world records, presently holding the record for most valuable British motorcycle sold at auction, as well as delivered white glove results for major single-owner collections. Significant past sales include:      

• The Dr Peter and Ulrike Bühner Collection – €2,002,000 – 97% sold. 

• The National Motorcycle Museum Reserve Collection – £905,000 – 77% sold. 

• The Giancarlo Morbidelli Collection – £1,713,000 – 95% sold. 

• The Brian R. Verrall Collection – £1,236,000 – 100% sold. 

• The Robert White Collection – £3,404,000 – 99% sold.  

• The Richard C. Paine Jr. Collection – $8,188,000 – 100% sold.  

 In addition to significant results achieved for Triumph Motorcycles:  

• Arthur “Fonz” Fonzarelli’s, Happy Days, 1949 Triumph Trophy Custom. Sold for $231,562. 

• The ex-Steve McQueen, 1938 Triumph 500cc 5T Speed Twin. Sold for $175,500.  

• The ex-Bud Ekins, 1962 ISDT Gold Medal-winning, 1962 Triumph 649cc TR6SS Trophy. Sold for £97,750. 

• The ex-Steve McQueen, Bud Ekins modified, Von Dutch painted, 1963 Triumph Bonneville Desert Sled. Sold for $103,500.  

• Property of Ron Chandler, 1973 Rouen 200-mile winning, 1973 Triumph 750cc Trident ‘Rob North’ Formula 750 Racing Motorcycle. Sold for £31,050. 

 For more information, please visit Bonhams.com/Motorcycles. 

Source: Bonhams|Cars Motorcycles

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