Feet Firmly On The Ground

Feet Firmly On The Ground

- Rod Ker

The dreaded ‘B’ word is still haunting us, and it looks like talks will carry on for several years yet, whether we like it or not. Meanwhile the markets – both financial and classic vehicle – seem remarkably stable. In theory the pound’s recent rise should have made it less likely that Europeans would be coming to UK auctions and outbidding British paupers, but has that happened? Probably not, although Ferrari prices have dropped, while Jaguar E-Types are still a favourite investment. Does that suggest the Italians have run out of cash? Maybe, but the bottom fell out of Italy years ago, and I doubt all that bail-out money was intended to finance the purchase of a Testarossa or Dino 246.

Back to reality, and the most recent auction before this issue went to press was H&H at their new National Motorcycle Museum venue, not far from our official City of Culture, Coventry. As you might guess, most of the lots sold here have two or three wheels, and this sale was no exception. Tiger Cubs, the staple diet of new riders in the 1950s and ’60s, have doubled in price without anyone noticing much. H&H’s offering was estimated at £2000-£2500. It didn’t get that far, but £1750 is still a good result, as is the £7500 bid for a 1964 Bonneville and – even more so – the £3525 for a late T100 that had been in storage. Students of history will remember that Ted Simon chose a similar bike to circumnavigate the world, as recounted in his book Jupiter’s Travels...