A motorcycle that finished second in the 1927 Ulster Grand Prix could realise as much as £350,000 at auction this weekend.
The 1925 Brough Superior 981cc SS100 is the star lot in Bonham’s spring sale at the International Classic Motorcycle Show in Stafford.
When it was built, the Brough SS100 was one of the leading machines of its day. Image courtesy of Bonhams.
It goes into the sale with an estimate of £300,000 to £350,000 and will be sold on Sunday.
The machine is just one of 12 of its type known to survive and it comes with long and detailed records of its competition and ownership history.
The bike’s first owner was Bob Matthews, a well-known Irish racer, named the “Bangor Boat” in honour of his 18-stone frame.
After a successful but short racing career, including that GP silver finish, the bike was sold on and stored until the 1960s. In 1972, it was bought for £370 by the family who are selling it in 2025.
After racing modifications back in its heyday, the bike has also been restored and maintained by specialists and is a regular participant in vintage racing events today.
Bob Matthews was a popular and successful racer, and put the machine through its racing paces from 1925 to 1927. Image courtesy of Bonhams.
Bonham’s say: “This SS100 is presented today as a superb example of early Brough Superior engineering, with its factory competition tuning and remarkable originality. Accompanied by evocative history and benefiting from long-term family ownership, it represents an unmissable opportunity.”
Motorcycles can be highly collectible, although the top prices don’t match those seen in the market for classic and vintage cars.
Earlier this year, a new world record was set in Las Vegas when a 1915 Cyclone V-Twin was sold for $1.32 million. The previous high was a $935,000 1908 Harley-Davidson.
In 2019, a 1930 Brough Superior made $542,500 at auction in the US. A 1926 model SS100 realised $453,000 (£280,000) in London in 2012.
Lawrence of Arabia on a Brough. He was waiting for his ninth machine from the firm when he died riding one.
Broughs were pioneers of high-speed motorcycle racing. The machines were made in Nottingham, from 1919 to 1940. George Brough, the company’s founder, continued to service machines well after production ceased. The company’s most famous customer was TE Lawrence (better known as “Lawrence of Arabia”) who died while riding his eighth Brough machine.
The SS100 in this bike’s name is a guarantee that the bike would reach 100 mph.
The sale is online now and closes this weekend.
