The famous "Old Bill" Brough Superior is set to break motorcycle auction records in an October 23 sale.
"Old Bill" was produced especially for Brough founder George Brough in 1922 and was originally dubbed the "Spit & Polish" due to its shining exterior. The motorcycle was renamed "Old Bill" after a first world war cartoon character, following Brough rebuilding the motorcycle for sprinting and hill climbing.
The legendary motorcycle has been included in every book published on the Brough brand, and is one of the most exclusive bikes ever produced. It made its racing debut at Brooklands in Surrey, becoming the first side-valve motorcycle to complete a lap at over 100mph.
Featuring a 1000c side-valve and V-twin engine, the machine gave Brough his first win. It went on to win a total of 51 sprints in the 1922 and 1923 seasons.
George Brough retired the bike after the historic seasons, having suffered two crashes which saw him hospitalised. It was subsequently damaged when a cast-iron bath fell through a ceiling during world war two, and remained in storage until the 1950s.
The spectacular sprinter can be seen all weekend at The Carole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show (April 28-29, 2012), before hoping to break records at the October 23, 2012 sale, where it will be sold with an estimate of £250,000-270,000.
In 2010, the same auction house sold a Brough Superior SS100 for £286,000 ($461,750), setting the world record for a motorcycle at auction.
The Carole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show will also be host to a special auction from Bonhams, where another Brough Superior, this time from 1934, will appear with an estimate of £150,000-180,000.
'Old Bill' motorcycle to break auction world record?
