Brough motorcycle breaks world record at auction

A rare motorcycle discovered in a Cornwall barn set a new world record after selling for more than £300,000.

The 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 was one of eight bikes of its type found on Bodmin Moor in December last year.

Together, eight bikes - described by auctioneers Bonhams as the "last known collection of unrestored Broughs" - reached £752,625.

Ben Walker, from Bonhams motorcycle department, described the find as "the motorcycle discovery of the decade".

He said: "They've caused quite a stir in the saleroom, with each one far exceeding estimate, allowing us to break our own world record for a British motorcycle sold at auction."

The 1938 Brough Superior 982cc sold for £330,000 at auction

Brough Superior motorcycles

George Brough chats with TE Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, at the Brough Superior factory in Haydn Road, Nottingham

• Brough Superior motorcycles were built in Nottingham, at founder George Brough's factory in Haydn Road
• Built in the 1920s and 1930s, they were known as the Rolls Royce of motorcycles and used by celebrated riders such as TE Lawrence
• British Army officer Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, owned eight Brough Superior bikes
• Only ten BS4 models (aka Brough Superior 'four cylinder') were built, and only seven survive
• TE Lawrence was killed in 1935 riding an SS100 he had named George VII

Source: Bonhams

The motorcyles were found under 'decades of dust'

An unnamed German bidder paid £331,900 for the 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4.

The motorcycles, which date from between 1926-1939, were collected by Frank Vague, who died in 2015.

The unrestored Brough Superior motorcycles were discovered in a barn on Bodmin Moor

Source: BBC

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