Bonhams has announced that its next major classic bike auction will take place at the at the 32ndCarole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show in Stafford on 29 April 2012. The auction will include over 30 motorcycles from the collection of Irish motorcycle legend Harry Lindsay, including an ‘as new’ McIntosh Norton 500cc Manx together with a matching McIntosh Norton 350cc Manx
Harry Lindsay and his family have long-been synonymous with motorcycle production, racing and sales. Harry’s grandfather was responsible for the creation of one of Ireland’s earliest motorcycles, the ‘Celtic’ and in 1926, he set up premises at 26 Great Ship Street in Dublin. Harry himself used the same premises when he acted as Ireland’s major importer of Bultaco motorcycles and Honda spares.
His lasting relationship with Bultaco led to Harry entering a Bultaco team in the 1967 Production 250cc TT, with riders Bill Smith and Tommy Rob placing 1st and 2nd. Harry went on to become Ireland’s agent for Vincent motorcycles and as such can lay claim to being on of only a handful of people fortunate enough to ride Reg Dearden’s supercharged Vincent Black Lightning.
Harry’s passion for motorcycles has seen him build an impressive collection over the years. The auction is expected to fetch over £200,000 in total and will include an ex-Stanley Woods/Bert Perrigo 1939 BSA 350cc B25 Competition Motorcycle, a 1912 Rudge Whitworth 499cc, a brace of Norton 500Ts including the 1948 Rex McCandless-designed pre-production model supplied by Norton to Chick Gibson and a circa 1928 Dunelt 499cc to list but a few.
Harry comments on the sale, “So now after all my enjoyments, disappointments, interests and satisfactions, the time arrived to make a decision. I did make that decision and that was to let the bikes go to be enjoyed by others of equal interest and lesser years. I am now in my eighty sixth year and I would love to know what happens to them (motorcycles).”
The 32nd Carole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show will take place at Stafford County Showground from 28-29 April 2012. Pre-booked tickets are £10 for an adult, £8.50 for seniors and £3 for under-15s, but on the gate it’s £12, £10.50 and £4 Gates open 9am on both days and close 6pm Saturday and 5pm Sunday.
