Vintage Motorcycle Auction
Lichfield House-Clearance Auction Raises Over £11,700 From Rare Vintage Motorcycles and Classic Cars
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide 3 Limited is described as the brand’s most powerful and expensive current trike, using a Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 V-twin that produces 114 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque.
2
The vintage motorcycle auction also included a late-1940s Douglas T35 Mk 3 with a twin-cylinder boxer engine and two Amal carburetors, as well as a Scott Flying Squirrel with a water-cooled twin-cylinder engine; both were sold in restoration or barn-find condition.
3
The Lichfield house clearance yielded more than motorcycles: a 1930s Morris Minor tourer, a 1984 seafoam-green Nissan Datsun Sunny, a 1977 MG B Roadster and a first-edition 2018 Kia Stonic were also auctioned, with the Kia fetching £6,000.
4
Honda entered the automobile industry in 1963 and later expanded into generators, pumps, agricultural and lawn equipment, outboard motors and aviation through the HondaJet, illustrating how its motorcycle-derived engineering capabilities were transferred across product categories.
5
The industrial-history overview emphasizes that Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Corporation are separate companies, an important distinction when tracing the motorcycle maker’s broader corporate identity and engineering legacy.
A house-clearance auction in Lichfield, England netted more than £11,700 for a sprawling collection of vintage motorcycles and parts. The sale included rare British bikes like a Douglas T35 Mk 3 and a Scott Flying Squirrel, both in restoration condition, along with classic cars ranging from a 1930s Morris Minor to a 2018 Kia Stonic that sold for £6,000.
The Lichfield clearance underscores the enduring appeal of mid-20th-century British motorcycles. Two major restoration projects alone fetched £1,900 and £1,350, signaling strong collector interest in brands like Douglas, Scott, BSA, Norton, and AJS—names that defined motorcycle engineering during the post-war boom.
British Bikes Drive Strong Auction Results
The Lichfield house clearance pulled together a rare snapshot of British motorcycle heritage. A late-1940s Douglas T35 Mk 3—equipped with a twin-cylinder boxer engine and twin Amal carburetors—sold in barn-find condition. Auction specialists noted the Douglas brand represented peak pre-war engineering when British manufacturers dominated global markets.
A Scott Flying Squirrel with water-cooled twin-cylinder construction also went under the hammer. Both machines needed full restoration, yet their scarcity and brand pedigree pushed bidders past initial estimates. Together with BSA, Norton, AJS, and Villiers components scattered throughout the lot, the sale proved that post-war British engineering still commands real money.
Much More Than Motorcycles Cleared From Estate
The house clearance yielded a mixed automotive treasure. Beyond the bikes, auctioneers sold a 1930s Morris Minor tourer, a seafoam-green 1984 Nissan Datsun Sunny, and a 1977 MG B Roadster. The surprise standout: a first-edition 2018 Kia Stonic that fetched £6,000—proving newer classics can compete with vintage machinery for buyer attention.
The diversity of the lot revealed how British estates often hide forgotten collections spanning decades. Local auction houses say mixed-vehicle estates increasingly attract specialist bidders willing to restore or preserve aging stock. The total haul of £11,700 rewarded the vendors for letting these machines find new custodians rather than scrapping them.
How Motorcycle Makers Built Industrial Empires
Today's motorcycle giants didn't stay in one lane. Industry analysts note that Honda entered automobiles in 1963, then expanded into generators, pumps, lawn mowers, outboard motors, and jets—proving motorcycle engineering transfers across sectors. Yamaha Motor, BMW, KTM, Ducati, Kawasaki, and Suzuki followed similar paths into cars, marine engines, and industrial equipment.
This cross-industry reach shaped motorcycle design itself. Engineering historians explain that aeronautical expertise fed into frame geometry, while automotive brake and suspension advances trickled back to bikes. Brands like Piaggio and MV Agusta leveraged motorcycle-born knowledge to compete across motorcars, scooters, and powertrains—a pattern that still defines their innovation strategies today.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
16
Articles
3
Reach
19
A
AnonymousAuthor
