VETERAN TRIKE MAKES $45K AT AUCTION

The auction included the entire contents of the 'Exmoor Classic Car Museum', located in Porlock, Somerset, UK. The museum had been the retirement project of Stephen Johns, an entrepreneur who ran a pyjama manufacturing business in West Yorkshire for 45 years. Upon retirement, Johns moved to the West Country and set up the Exmoor Classic Car Museum Collection to house the 10 cars, 13 motorcycles and assorted automobilia he had built up over the years.

Amongst the bikes, the 'Phebus' three wheeler from 1898 was the star lot. Produced by the Anglo-French Clément-Gladiator-Humber conglomerate, the trike's name came from the Greek sun god, Phoebus (Apollo in Roman mythology). Powered by French-built Aster single-cylinder engines, the Phebus was, for its period, one of the quickest machines going around. At the turn of the century, pioneering racing motorist, Charles Jarrott, achieved the then astonishing speed of 39mph (62kph) at London's Crystal Palace velodrome mounted on a Phebus.

Extremely rare today, the Phébus motor tricycle consigned to Bonhams' Beaulieu sale was fitted with a correct 322cc Aster single-cylinder engine rated at 2¾hp. The machine was purchased in France in June 2009 by the owner preceding Stephen Johns and was in 90% complete condition when acquired. It was then treated to a complete nut and bolt restoration by Mick Penney, a renowned tricycle specialist in the UK. Missing items, like the ignition timer and coil, exhaust silencer, camshaft and timing gears, were all replaced with newly-manufactured items. The original surface carburettor was replaced with a period 'Longuemare' spray carburettor for ease of use and improved performance.

Only a relatively few test miles had been covered since completion and the machine was presented in fully restored condition when it was offered for sale at Bonhams' April 2010 sale at the RAF Museum, Hendon. The Phebus was purchased by Johns at that auction and added to his Exmoor museum collection.

Given its age and operational condition, Bonhams advised that the Phebus would be eligible for both the London to Brighton and Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club Pioneer runs. Offered with operating instructions, Pioneer Certificate, SORN letter, expired tax/MoT (September 2010) and Swansea V5C registration document, the Phebus attracted a final hammer price of $28,750 (approx. AU$45,500), making it the top seller amongst the motorcycles consigned for this auction.

Other motorcycle sale highlights included a 1947 Dot 122cc AA (automobile service organisation) Tri-Car that sold for _10,350 (approx. AU$16,100) and a C1945 BSA 591cc M21 Motorcycle Combination, also in AA livery, that sold for $9,430 (approx. AU$14,700). Both realised more than twice their top estimates.

Every lot from the Exmoor Classic Car Museum Collection sold, attracting a grand total of $667,128 (approx. AU$1.04million). Top selling car from the collection was a 1927 Bugatti Type 40 roadster, which sold for $149,340 (approx. AU$232,680).

For more details on this lot and others from Bonhams' National Motor Museum auction, go to www.bonhams.com