Paris in the Spring

Oh to be in Paris in the Spring; well, 6th and 7th of February - that's when these Garellis are on show, ready for some Bonham's hammer action. Unsurprisingly they take the chance to namecheck Nuvolari. Tazio Nuvolari is one of my candidates for GOAT; greatest of all time. Unbeatable at Bianchi and Alfa Romeo,the story's in issue 4 of  Benzina. But before then he raced the most dominant motorcycle of its era - the split single Garelli 350 two-stroke. When Carlo Guzzi sat down to design his first motorcycle, he knew the Garelli was the bike he had to beat. More in Issue 3.  Estimates on the oldest bikes (excluding premiums) is €7,000-12,000 for the c.1925 split twin and €6,000-8,000 for the c.1935 twin piston single. Anyway - to the blurb. Quite fancy the De Havilland

The entire Garelli Grand Prix Collection is offered at No Reserve at the Bonhams sale at the Grand Palais in Paris

A second collection for the 6th to 7th February sale features some 55 machines from the early Vintage era to the modern day

Two single-owner collections will headline the motorcycle section of the Bonhams sale at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, in early February 2013.
The Garelli Grand Prix Collection comprises some two-dozen historic racing motorcycles from the celebrated Italian manufacturer, many from the factory's 1980s heyday, and a selection from its pre-war days. All the machines, which were housed by their current owner in a private chapel, will be sold at no reserve.

Highlights include the 1963 Garelli 50cc Monza world-record-breaker (estimate €50,000 - €70,000); the ex-Eugenio Lazzarini 1983 50cc racer that helped Garelli to the manufacturers' World Championship that year (estimate €12,000 - €17,000); and a 1987 example of the 125cc twin that won six riders' World Championships and four manufacturers' titles during the 1980s (estimate €7,000 - €12,000).

Also forming part of the collection are two important non-Garelli racing motorcycles: the ex-Fred Merkel Honda RC30 ridden by the American World Superbike champion during the 1989/90 season (estimate €20,000 - €30,000), and the 1989 Yamaha TZ250W used by French star Jean-François Baldé during his final season of Grand Prix racing (estimate €3,500 - €5,500).

Garelli Motorcycles was founded in 1919. Many famous Italian racers – including Ernesto Gnesa, Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi – began their racing careers on Garelli bikes, and in the early 1980s the factory dominated the 125 class in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, winning six consecutive world championships between 1982 and 1987.

Lining up alongside the Garellis is an important French private collection assembled by garage-owning enthusiast owner, the late Claude Lesellier. The eclectic mix of some 55 machines includes French, British, German and American motorcycles dating from the early Vintage era to the modern day.

Highlights include:

1935 Magnat Debon 750cc VMA v-twin (estimate €8,000 - €12,000)

1950 Terrot 500cc RGST (estimate €4,500 - €6,500)

1945 Terrot 350cc JSS (estimate €3,000 - €4,000)

1929 Rhonyx 500cc GX (estimate €6,000 - €10,000)

1930 Dollar 500cc S3 (estimate €5,000 - €6,000)

1927 Automoto 500cc AL11 Supersport (estimate €10,000 - €15,000)

c.1921 Magnat Debon 250cc (estimate €6,500 - €8,500)

1918 Harley-Davidson Model 18F Combination (estimate €16,000 - €20,000)

1916 Indian 1,000cc Powerplus (estimate €20,000 - €25,000)

1930 Stylson 350cc RH (estimate €4,000 - €5,000)

1931 Arbinet 350cc BSSC (estimate €5,000 - €7,000)

Following the spectacular success of its 2011 sale at the historic automotive venue, Bonhams is delighted to be returning to the Grand Palais in Paris in 2013, where the Motor Car, Motorcycle and Automobilia departments will combine with the 20th Century Decorative Arts department to conduct a series of sales.

Among other lots already consigned for the auctions is the 1929 American Moth Corporation De Havilland 60GMW Gipsy Moth biplane that featured in the 1985 Oscar-winning film 'Out of Africa' (starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford), and the ex-works Bugatti Type 54 that raced at Monza on 6th September 1931 in the hands of Achille Varzi (estimate €2.5 million - €3.5 million).

Highlights among the objets d'art on offer include:

- Raoul Larche, a Gilt-Bronze Figural Lamp modelled as the actress Loie Fuller, c.1920 (estimate €50,000 - €75,000)

- Jean Dunand, a Dinanderie vase from the first year of production, 1913 (estimate €12,000 - €17,000)

- Demetre Chiparus 'Dourga'. A large size chryselephantine model, c.1925 (estimate €15,000 - €22,000)

Final entries for the auction are being accepted. For further information call +33 1 42 61 10 11 or email:paris@bonhams.com .