RM Sotheby’s to offer significant motorcycle collection at Villa Erba

RM Sotheby’s has revealed that it will offer one of the finest single-owner collections of motorcycles to ever come to market at its Villa Erba sale on 27 May, spearheaded by the legendary Brough Superior SS100 ‘Moby Dick’. Our man Rémi Dargegen was entrusted with photographing the glorious gaggle…

Pick ‘n’ mix

“Admittedly, I’m much more of a car guy, but I really love the aesthetics of some motorcycles”, recalls Rémi Dargegen, who recently photographed the collection for RM Sotheby’s. “The variety is sublime, from a pre-War Indian board-track racer to a modern Egli-Vincent café racer.” Comprising 20 bikes in total, including two Nortons, four MV Agustas, and a staggering five Brough Superiors, the collection will cross the block at Villa Erba during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend. The crowning jewel is undoubtedly the Brough Superior SS100, affectionately known as ‘Moby Dick’, whose 1,140cc engine was breathed on by both George Brough and JAP. It’s estimated to fetch a mighty 500,000–700,000 euros.

Inspired bidding

Other highlights include the ex-Derek Minter, John Hartle, and Phil Read Gilera 500 ‘4 Cilindri’ (est. 380,000–450,000 euros), the 1964 Finnish Grand Prix-winning Norton Manx 30M (est. 50,000–70,000 euros), and a matching-numbers 1937 Zündapp K800 (est. 20,000–35,000 euros). “Aside from the 'Moby Dick', with its history and contrasting colour combination, the Zündapp is definitely my crush”, comments Remi, “because of its style, its rigid frame, and all the intricate Art Deco details.” Named ‘Moto-Icons: From Café Racer to the Superbike’, the collection will inevitably inspire spirited bidding at Villa Erba, no doubt spurred on by the neighbouring dedicated motorcycle concours...