LONDON.- Bonhams motorcycle department enjoyed an incredible two-day Stafford Sale, grossing more than £3.6 million, the highest figure ever achieved for a European and UK motorcycle auction.

The hotly-anticipated single-owner Lonati Collection achieved excellent figures on day one of the sale, with 91% sold, and a new world record set for an Indian Four, as the 1930 Indian Model 402 Four Motorcycle Combination smashed its pre-sale estimate, soaring to £97,700.

Great British marque Brough Superior led day two of Stafford, with a duo of Brough Superior 981cc SS100 Alpine Grand Sport projects selling well, with the 1926 model sold for £236,700, and the 1927 model sold for £259,100. The 1937 Brough Superior 990cc SS100 also sold well, achieving £208,700, and the 1934 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50hp project sold for £93,340.

“It’s been an excellent weekend at Stafford, with a two-day sale that has grossed an incredible £3.6 million, a new record for the sale,” said Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Collectors' Motorcycles. “With great looks, excellent engineering and a prestigious reputation, it’s no surprise Brough Superior continues to prove popular, with enthusiasts willing to spend strong figures for both complete bikes and restoration projects, as we’ve witnessed at today’s sale, where the 1927 Brough Superior 981cc SS100 Alpine Grand Sport project was the highest grossing lot.”

Adding some celebrity sparkle to the event, former Top Gear presenter James May offered several motorcycles in the sale, lead by his 1967 Honda CB450 ‘Black Bomber’, which sold for £5,980. From captain slow to the king of cool, the ex-Steve McQueen 1934 Indian 750cc Sport Scout sold for £59,740.

“The two-day Stafford Sale has been a resounding success, and the highest ever UK and European motorcycle auction total. Bonhams have a long established reputation for successfully handling single-owner collections, with the Italian Lonati Collection Sale further cementing that status,” said Malcolm Barber, Bonhams co-chairman. “We witnessed strong international bidding, with several American clients travelling to the sale, many European bidders in the audience and on the telephone, and famous faces in the room – another great Stafford Sale.”

Stored in an astonishing private museum of motorcycles, the highly prized Lonati collection saw excellent prices achieved, including a 1910 Pierce 688cc Four, sold for £63,100, a 1930 Henderson 1,301cc Model KJ ‘Streamline’ Four, sold for £49,450, a 1930 Harley-Davidson 1,200cc Model V, sold for £34,500, and the 1911 Flying Merkel 498cc 'Racing' Motorcycle, sold for £33,350.

Further sale highlights include a 1971 Münch 1,177cc TTS ‘Mammoth’ sold for more than double its top estimate, achieving £85,500, and a 1932 Rudge 350cc Works Racing Motorcycle for for more than seven times top estimate, sold for £70,940