Indian Scout is top bike at Shannons Auction

Shannons’ final auction for 2022, their Spring Timed Online Auction, featured 38 motorcycles and scooters as part of a 243-lot event that also included cars, collectables, memorabilia and heritage number plates. The overall clearance rate from this auction was strong at 89 per cent, with $12.9 million in sales. Of the motorcycles, only two lots were passed in.

Some of the more peculiar bikes on offer at the 9-15 November auction included a trio of ’50s-era BSAs retrofitted with older JAP engines, a DKW Bumblebee moped, Piaggio Ape trike and a rare, Chinese-made ‘Xing Fu’ 250 single.

Premium lots included a fully rebuilt Velocette Venom Thruxton replica, ’95 Honda VFR750 Winfield Racing Edition (one of 16 built), a Norvin 500 racer built by Mick McCrudden and a pair of immaculate classic Indians.

The two Indians, a 1926 Prince 350 single and 1928 101 Scout 750 v-twin, were both fully restored, with the 101 Scout being additionally significant in that it came from the first year of this model.

Despite being popular with road riders and racers alike when new, the 101 Scout would only stay in production until 1931, when the Great Depression and new ownership at Indian saw the range rationalised.

The value of 101 Scouts has increased over the years, so it was no surprise when the exceptional example offered by Shannons carried a pre-auction estimate of $50,000-$60,000. What was a surprise was the fact the Scout comfortably exceeded this to sell for $82,000, making it the auction’s top-selling bike.

The Prince 350 sold for $22,000, while a 1941 741 Scout military model in ‘project’ spec and offered with no reserve went for $15,500. Both prices were within pre-auction estimates.

Other notable sales from this auction included a 1982 Ducati 900 SS that fell short of estimate but still made $37,000 and a restored ’75 Kawasaki H2C triple that went for $25,000, while the VFR750 Winfield Superbike Replica made $30,000.

Of the JAP-engined BSAs, the two with 1000cc v-twins sold for $35,500 and $26,500, respectively, while the third with a 500cc single sold for $12,500.

For more details, go to: shannons.com.au