Bonhams Auction Of 60 Incredible Motorcycles

auction1An incredible single-owner collection of 60 rare motorcycles will be offered at Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale, UK taking place October 17-18, 2015. The Lonati Collection consists of mostly American machines, including examples from motorcycle greats Harley-Davidson, Indian, Pierce and Excelsior. The collection is offered from the family of the late Tiberio Lonati, Italy based CEO of the Santoni Group. “This is an incredibly rare find; 60 fantastic collectors’ motorcycles, all carefully stored in the Brescia based private museum of entrepreneur and CEO of the Santoni Group, Tiberio Lonati,” said Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles. Mr. Lonati loved what motorcycles represent, ‘complete freedom’, the open road, something highly synonymous with US motorcycle marque, Harley-Davidson – which is perhaps why he had so many.”

auction2Stored in an astonishing private museum of motorcycles, the prized collection celebrates American marques from across pivotal points in motorcycle manufacture. Highlights include a 1910 Pierce 688cc Four, estimate £60,000-80,000, and a 1930 Indian 1,265cc Model 402 Four-cylinder Combination, estimate £40,000-50,000.

auction3The Lonati Collection began with Tiberio’s son, Francesco, who has a great love for motorcycles. With his enthusiasm for the machines, coupled with knowledge of his father’s likes, Francesco Davidson WLA, now offered at estimate £14,000-18,000. This first motorcycle ignited a passion, and soon Mr. Lonati expanded to a vast 60 motorcycle collection, all housed in a private museum at the Santoni factory in Brescia, Italy.

auction4The collection includes a variety of marques and models, including a 1916 Henderson 1,000cc Model F, estimate £30,000-40,000, pre-war great the 1911 Flying Merkel 500cc ‘Racer’, estimate £16,000-20,000, a 1920 Harley-Davidson Model J, estimate £18,000-24,000, and at one-hundred years old, the 1915 Thor 1,000cc Model U, estimate £28,000-25,000.

Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale takes place 17-18 October at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Staffordshire County Showground. The Lonati Collection will be sold on Saturday 17. For further information on Bonhams motorcycle department visit: www.bonhams.com/motorcycles

From top to bottom. 1910 Pierce 688cc Four, estimate £60,000-80,000; 1920 Harley-Davidson Model J, estimate £18,000-24,000.  1942 Harley-Davidson 750cc Model WLA, estimated at £8,000 – £12,000; 1930 Indian 1,265cc Model 402 Four-cylinder Combination, estimate £40,000-50,000. 

7 Responses to “Bonhams Auction Of 60 Incredible Motorcycles”


  1. 1 chicagojohn Aug 25th, 2015 at 9:28 am

    Thanks Cyril, beautiful machines, would love to see more of the collection.

  2. 2 Rodent Aug 25th, 2015 at 10:16 am

    Chicagojohn: Google Bonhams and you can find the online catalog for this auction.

  3. 3 Dave Blevins Aug 25th, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    Good looking machines indeed.

  4. 4 chicagojohn Aug 26th, 2015 at 8:37 am

    Rodent thanks will do.

  5. 5 fuji Aug 26th, 2015 at 9:09 am

    Pierce. Fuel tank in frame great idea along with oil tank in frame

  6. 6 pokergolf420 Aug 27th, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Those numbers actually look reasonable.

  7. 7 Capt. Al Sep 1st, 2015 at 10:34 am

    They look reasonable, but these New Generation Buyers like the Idea of being able to tell everyone that they are Collectors. They have not one idea of the significance of anyone of the bikes that they buy, except what they read in the Catalogue and “pokergolf420” by the time you add the 15% Buyers Fee and the Handling and Delivery, its a good thing that these Ego Buyers do not really know the Value.

Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze