Author Topic: Motorcycle Auction "Bettencourt Collection" Bridgewater MA, this Saturday. (Read 9178 times)

Terry in Australia · « **on:** November 16, 2009, 02:55:14 PM »

Geez, there are 220 bikes on auction with no reserve, including a heap of Honda's. I spotted 3 "mint" CB750's, a CB500 and many more. I personally would like the Laverda SF1 750 like mine with only 200 (yep, two hundred) miles on the odometer, but I reckon that will go for mega bucks!

If any of you guys live in the area I reckon you'd be mad not to go take a look! Cheers, Terry.

http://www.jwoodandcompany.com/2009/bettencourt_collection/Bettencourt.htm

azuredesign · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2009, 03:17:53 PM »

I'm pretty sure a group of us local SOHC guys are heading over there. It'll be fun to see what sells for what, and who knows, I just might be able to squeeze another bike into my garage.

kslrr · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2009, 04:06:42 PM »

Wow, I wouldn't mind one of those Yamaha RD's and one of the CBX's

mick750F · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2009, 03:02:03 AM »

Terry if you need a proxy bidder for the Laverda let me know.

Mike

MRieck · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2009, 08:28:06 AM »

Quote from: azuredesign on November 16, 2009, 03:17:53 PM

I'm pretty sure a group of us local SOHC guys are heading over there. It'll be fun to see what sells for what, and who knows, I just might be able to squeeze another bike into my garage.

Ben...I'll attend that with you. There is a 75F on that list....who knows?

bwaller · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:35:26 AM »

I suppose this is the late John Bettencourts family business?

azuredesign · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:51:38 AM »

Quote from: MRieck on November 17, 2009, 08:28:06 AM

Quote from: azuredesign on November 16, 2009, 03:17:53 PM
I'm pretty sure a group of us local SOHC guys are heading over there. It'll be fun to see what sells for what, and who knows, I just might be able to squeeze another bike into my garage.
Ben...I'll attend that with you. There is a 75F on that list....who knows?

Great Mike, Let's go from my place. I'd be into going early as the preview starts at 8am.
Let me know what works for you.

azuredesign · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:57:22 AM »

Quote from: bwaller on November 17, 2009, 09:35:26 AM

I suppose this is the late John Bettencourts family business?

Yes, from what I understand John's brother David has cancer, and the auction is a byproduct of that problem.

simon#42 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2009, 10:04:56 AM »

thank god that lot is on the other side of the world ! , that rickman looks nice there was also a norton and a cz scrambler that i could probably have found room for

Alan F. · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2009, 10:05:35 AM »

I'm not sure if I'll be riding down but I've got a few local sohc4'ers and a few racers I know that'll be attending.
Should be a good time.
-Alan

chips1953 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2009, 10:28:45 AM »

Amazing......
I spotted a Wankel engined DKW, I've only ever seen one of those before, and that was new. Some ways I'm glad it's not in this country, save a stack of cash.
Have fun!

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2009, 01:35:12 PM »

Quote from: 736cc on November 17, 2009, 10:58:34 AM

I know for a fact the REALLY good stuff has been cherry-picked for a couple of years now, including a once in a lifetime bike thats so far off the charts collectable-wise, and bought for the proverbial song. We can all stop looking for the holy grail, somebody stepped in it and didn't even know it at the time, thought it was just an old basketcase cb750 in Bettencourts barn. How collectable? I don't think there's even a category for this one, its so far outa left field, totally defies precedent.

What's the latest news with that bike? Is it getting worked on at all?

j-conn · « **Reply #12 on:** November 17, 2009, 01:50:12 PM »

why is that one so holy??? (other than its sandcast)
enlighten me

btw what is so special about the sandcast too...
is there anything more than it being the earliest 750s?

andy750 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 17, 2009, 02:04:32 PM »

Quote from: azuredesign on November 17, 2009, 09:51:38 AM

Quote from: MRieck on November 17, 2009, 08:28:06 AM
Quote from: azuredesign on November 16, 2009, 03:17:53 PM
I'm pretty sure a group of us local SOHC guys are heading over there. It'll be fun to see what sells for what, and who knows, I just might be able to squeeze another bike into my garage.
Ben...I'll attend that with you. There is a 75F on that list....who knows?
Great Mike, Let's go from my place. I'd be into going early as the preview starts at 8am.
Let me know what works for you.

]

Ben count me in

. Let me know time of departure.

cheers
Andy

azuredesign · « **Reply #14 on:** November 17, 2009, 02:17:22 PM »

That'll be good Andy. I'll ask Martha if we can take her car as it'll be much more roomy than mine.
I'd say if we left here at 8:30, we'd get there at 9:15, and have an hour to check out the things that are most interesting. If you want to look at everything, we can go earlier, as long as Mike can hoof it over in time.

andy750 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 17, 2009, 02:27:39 PM »

Ok but I might ride if its going to be good weather. Ill let you know Friday, forecast pending....

cheers
Andy

azuredesign · « **Reply #16 on:** November 17, 2009, 03:00:37 PM »

I'd be into riding too, if it's not raining, but I don't know about Mike.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #17 on:** November 17, 2009, 04:30:32 PM »

Quote from: mick750F on November 17, 2009, 03:02:03 AM

Terry if you need a proxy bidder for the Laverda let me know.

Mike

Hey thanks Mike, I'd love to buy it, but I was first alerted to it's existence by some very interested Laverda folk on another site, so there'll be some competition I reckon, ha ha!

The last few that I've seen have gone for well over $10K (although there's a very interesting 1970 Laverda "American Eagle" 750 on EBay presently for around 3500, a bargain, I'd think) so a virtually new SF1 may go for as much as 15-20K. If you do go, let me know what it goes for? Cheers, Terry.

Quote from: j-conn on November 17, 2009, 01:50:12 PM

why is that one so holy??? (other than its sandcast)
enlighten me

btw what is so special about the sandcast too...
is there anything more than it being the earliest 750s?

I can't see the pic (Bloody defence firewall!) but I presume it's a pic that Andy previously posted in a thread he started about a friend of his who bought one of the factory prototypes for the CB750.

It's not just "rare", it's virtually a "one off" (although I believe a couple were built) that no-one knew still existed. Not too many interchangeable parts though, so unless Honda can help, it'll probably never be a going concern again soon.

Apart from this prototype, the limited production early "Sandcast" CB750K0's are the most collectable, hence the most valuable. Cheers, Terry.

754 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 17, 2009, 06:47:08 PM »

That bike is rare and the only one.. but realistically, I would be surpised to see it bring over 200 K, if that..

In time it will be more valuable..

But I would not put it in the class of a Cyclone boardtracker or even a Rolly Free bike..or the Monro streamliner...... as far as desireability goes.

I was a bit unhappy that a collection that size, had no early iron.

IF you guys really want to see the stuff, go earlier to preview if possible.. trying to see even a 1/4 of 200 bikes through a crowd will be a very frustrating experience..

chips1953 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:25:19 AM »

I was a bit unhappy that a collection that size, had no early iron.
754

This lot was a barn find in NZ I believe.
http://www.webbs.co.nz/auction/important-and-vintage-motorcycles

74cb750 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 18, 2009, 09:14:12 AM »

The NZ auction is nice if you like really old bikes.
Only one I would be interested in is the Triumph X75,
as I am not enamoured w anything older than 1960.
peace,
michel

754 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 18, 2009, 10:07:19 AM »

Yup, its different strokes for different folks..

In the Bettencourt auction, I found little that interested me, a few bicycles, the early Z 50s were sorta cool, and maybe an early 350 & the Laverda........ that is what I saw off the list, did not view the pics.

I love the sohc 750s, love riding them, but ones newer than that, I just dont find interesting..

but early iron, I can look at that for weeks on end..

Alan F. · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2009, 02:36:13 PM »

There was a ton of old iron there, it was a warm day almost 60* and the turnout was HUGE. It was hard to see the bikes inside, but the bikes outside were pretty interesting too. We had a pretty good turnout of SOHC4 members, I counted 6 or 7. SamCB750A's American tour is in town and I was able to finally meet the man himself. A couple rocker types from www.rockersct.com were REALLY enjoying meeting him too.
Andy750 and I even met Doug Wothke of ADVrider fame who is in the area doing his usual thing and being cool as ever.
All in all a pretty decent day.
-Alan

andy750 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2009, 04:32:24 PM »

Very interesting day....started off very well when we met RTWDoug - from ADVrider forum who this summer went RTW on his panhead (and previous RTW on his 48 Indian - more here - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462017&highlight=africa+twin) - really nice guy and was with a couple of friends from Alabama and his Bulgarian g/f.

Here are some of the bikes...

The red K1 went for $8500....1100 miles on the clock...

The Laverda went for $12,500....sorry for the bad pic...

The Rickmann for ~$9000

The CB400s were in demand - this one for $2600

And some other bikes...

$1700 for the 78...

$2100 for the 75...

Other bikes....

and outside on the street a nice Ducati...

And as we were leaving Sam and Mike R turned up.....what a day! Will catch up with those 2 tomorrow

cheers
Andy

754 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2009, 09:36:31 PM »

Cool pics..
love that red Triumph period chopper, should lightly restore that one..

the touring Sporty is nice..

That dash on the Columbia bicycle is probably worth 700 - 1000 bux..

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Author Topic: Motorcycle Auction "Bettencourt Collection" Bridgewater MA, this Saturday. (Read 9178 times)