Over 30 motorcycles from the collection of the Irish motorcycle legend, Harry Lindsay, are to feature in Bonhams next auction at the Classic Motorcycle Show in Stafford, on 29th April 2012. The collection is expected to fetch over £200,000 in total. Highlights include an ‘as new’ McIntosh Norton 500cc Manx (£25,000-30,000) together with a matching McIntosh Norton 350cc Manx (£22,000-27,000).
Bonhams is delighted to announce the consignment of the Harry Lindsay Motorcycle Collection. Harry’s family has long been synonymous with motorcycle production, racing and sales, his grandfather responsible for the creation of one of Ireland’s earliest motorcycles: the ‘Celtic’.
In 1926 Harry’s grandfather and father set up premises in 26 Great Ship Street, Dublin, the same premises from which Harry acted as Irelands major importer of Bultaco motorcycles and Honda spares, forging a lasting relationship with Snr Bulto, and entered Bultacos in the 1967 Production 250cc TT, riders Bill Smith and Tommy Rob placing 1st and 2nd, together with the Australian Kevin Cass placing 6th after engine trouble.
Harry was the Republic of Ireland’s Vincent agent and a good friend of Philip Vincent, and can lay claim to being one of only a handful of riders fortunate enough to ride Reg Dearden’s supercharged Vincent Black Lightning. Cousin of Reg Armstrong (Senior TT winner in 1952), Harry taught Reg to ride during ‘The Emergency’. One of Harry’s closest friendships was with Stanley Woods, Harry and Stanley taking turns to visit one another at weekends. Harry would insist on there being a subject to discuss during their visits, many of which are detailed in his book.
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 collection of over 30 motorcycles includes an ex-Stanley Woods/Bert Perrigo 1939 BSA 350cc B25 Competition Motorcycle (£8,000-12,000); an ‘as new’ McIntosh Norton 500cc Model 30 Manx (£25,000-30,000) together with matching McIntosh Norton 350cc Model 40 Manx (£22,000-27,000); 1912 Rudge Whitworth 499cc (£8,000-12,000); a brace of Norton 500Ts including the 1948 Rex McCandless-designed pre-production model supplied by Norton to Chick Gibson (£7,000-10,000) and a circa 1928 Dunelt 499cc (£6,000-8,000) to list but a few.
Further early consignments to the sale include a c.1900 Singer Gents Motor Bicycle (£19,500-23,000); Sammy Miller restored 1904 Humber 2¾hp (£17,000-20,000); 1912 Matchless 8hp Model 7B (£14,000-18,000); One of four constructed, c.1958 Benelli 248cc Grand Prix racing motorcycle (£70,000-100,000); a particularly rare 1961 Fruin 200cc four-cylinder racing motorcycle (£8,000-10,000); 1992 Titchmarsh Seeley-Matchless 496c G50 Racing Motorcycle (£6,000-8,000); Matching numbers, 1937 Brough Superior 980cc SS80 (£30,000-35,000); Fully restored 1955 Vincent 998cc Series D Black Shadow (£60,000-70,000); 1936 Vincent-HRD 499cc Series A TT Replica (£30,000-36,000); 1928 Grindlay-Peerless 346cc (£5,000-6,000) and the Ex-Gerald Selby 1937 Rudge 499cc Ulster TT Replica (£4,500-5,500);