1952 Vincent Rapide
Sure, the Internet has been abuzz about the 1895 Hildebrand and Wolfmuller steam-engine derived, gas-powered motorcycle that is the featured bike in Bonhams’ Las Vegas Motorcycle Sale coming up this Thursday. But it is worth your while to check out the rest of the motorcycles being offered at this sale too, some of them almost as rare and maybe as obscure to those who can’t get enough motorcycle history. In addition to the post-war Cushmans and Whizzers and modern Ducatis, Harleys and BMWs, Bonhams is offering some other scoots whose names you may not recognize.
A small sampling of interesting rare bikes from their catalog:
- 1935 Rudge 250cc Sports
- 1957 Moto Parilla 175cc
- 1958 Mondial 200 Comfort
- 1964 Greeves 250cc trials bike
- Cyclemotor’s 1921 Evans Power Cycle
- 1947 Scott Flying Squirrel
- 1919 GCS 750cc (thought to be the sole surviving) from Australia
- 1952 Vincent Rapide Series C
- 1913 Flying Merkel in original orange paint
- 1921 New Imperial 250cc ( Isle of Man TT winner)
- 1911 Curtis Marvell 500cc
- 1913 Excelsior Autocycle single-cylinder
- 1929 Henderson KJ four-cylinder
Several Indian board track racers and “camelback” singles are also listed. Over 180 bikes in all and 49 other lots of motorcycle memorabilia are being offered in this sale, taking place in the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino this Thursday. You can view all 239 lots online at the Bonhams and Butterfields website www.bonhams.com/us/home/
