Part of the Michael Taggart Collection to be auctioned by Mecum Auctions
Which auction to choose? That’s going to be a tough call for vintage motorcycle buyers taking in the Pebble Beach/Monterey vintage auction scene this weekend, with Mecum Auctions looking to unload 54 classic motorcycles from the Michael Taggart collection and MidAmerica Auctions making a bid to sell 100-plus vintage motorcycles and gear at Pebble Beach during the 61st Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The Michael Taggart collection, an eclectic mix of 54 motorcycles, will be offered at the third annual Mecum Monterey Auction, Aug. 18-20, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course.
Known by friends and fellow collectors as “Tag,” Michael Taggart – whose father created Taggart Baking Company, makers of Wonder Bread – grew up near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and developed a childhood passion for cars and motorcycles. Over the years, he has collected an array of bikes representing every genre of the industry: racing, street, dirt track and motocross.
Headlining Tag’s collection is a 1929 Norton CS1 that has been on display in his living room. The collection also features a variety of high-quality Rickman, Matchless, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Norton, Triumph, BSA, Ariel models and more.
1929 Norton CS1 from the Michael Taggart Collection.
Headlining the MidAmerica auction is a 1938 Brough Superior SS80, a bike you can start bidding on right now at MidAmerica’s online bidding site. MidAmerica’s online bidding site lists the bike with a $75,000 “Buy it Now” price, giving potential purchasers the option of forgoing the auction process entirely. The Brough has already attracted one bid of $40,000. Numerous other bikes on the MidAmerica site have also attracted starting bids, and we think it’ll be interesting to see how well MidAmerica’s online bidding plays out this year. This is a process the auction house has been playing with and perfecting over the past few years, and so far it seems to be getting more attention than previously. Potential buyers can of course view the bikes in person at the MidAmerica auction at Pebble Beach.
1938 Brough Superior SS80 to be auctioned by MidAmerica.
We’ll follow up on both auctions next week, so stay tuned. – Richard Backus
