Rare veteran and vintage motorcycles from noted Victorian collector and enthusiast Warren Hicks will feature at the Shannons Timed Spring Online Auction from 11-18 November 2020.
The six special motorcycles built between 1907 and 1925 are being offered with no reserve, so they could sell for reasonable prices.
The rarest of the six is the circa-1907 Zenith Bi-Car, frame No 3, which is the only known example to exist of this radical design with its front wheel hub-centre steering. It is the motorcyle at the head of this article.
It is being offered in ‘barn find’ condition and has not been seen in public since 1974.
The Zenith is expected to attract strong international interest in the $A50,000-$A70,000 range.
A circa-1914 American Excelsior V-Twin 1000cc ‘Two speed’ is being offered complete but not run since 1978.
The Excelsior is powered by a 1000cc V-Twin engine and has cast iron footboards and a foot brake pedal.
It is also the first two-speed motorcycles, with its left handlebar grip operating the clutch.
The bike is expected to sell in the $A40,000-$A60,000 range.
A circa-1910 FN ‘Four’, presented in complete and original but unrestored project condition, is also very rare as a four-cylinder early single-speed, shaft-drive motorcycle.
The bike has been with its current owner since 1970 after beginning its local life in Broken Hill.
It is expected sell in the $40,000-$50,000 range, with a package of parts, including spare four-cylinder engines.
The very rare circa-1922 Stranger V-Twin 538cc ‘two-stroke’ motorcycle being offered at the auction is one of two known survivors worldwide out of just 20 made.
The only other known survivor, is in a British museum.
Purchased in Adelaide in 1957 and last ridden in 1975, the Stranger had a chain/belt drive and no front brake.
In the post-World War I Vintage motorcycles, there is a circa-1922 KG Cito Special 500cc OHV and a circa-1925 Villiers-engined Diamond 147cc.
The 500cc OHV German-built KG Cito is one of just three believed to exist today, as the company was taken over by Allbright in 1923.
Equipped with shaft-drive and a Bosch generator for its electric lighting, this very rare early German motorcycle is expected to fetch $A40,0000-$A50,000.
The Diamond 147cc is the last of the chain-cum-belt motorcycles built.
The ultra-lightweight bike has no front brake, clutch or kickstart and is expected to bring $A5000-$A8000.