Tony East collection at Bonhams

[John Wakefield]

I have just received the details of 8 bikes from the Tony East Collection, The 24DD OBG Special is not listed so presume its no longer part of the collection and being sold on behalf of another vendor. Also the East Coaster but we know that is BRK68D (25DC464B)

1968 GREEVES 250CC 24DF 'POLICE'

• REGISTRATION NO. VJJ 980G HOWEVER DISPLAYS VJJ 982G (UK)
• FRAME NO. 24 DF 117

1968 GREEVES 250CC 24DF 'POLICE'

• REGISTRATION NO. VJJ982G
• FRAME NO. 24 DF 119

1961 GREEVES 250CC SPORTS TWIN

- REGISTRATION NO. 110 XVW (UK)

- FRAME NO. 61/3219


1961 GREEVES 250 24 DC

- REGISTRATION NO. WMN 250 (MANX)

- FRAME NO. 24DC124


1959 GREEVES 325CC SPORTS TWIN

- REGISTRATION NO. AJU 663A (UK)

- FRAME NO. 32DC140


1966 GREEVES 197CC 20DC

- REGISTRATION NO. MDX 69D (UK)

- FRAME NO. 20DC397 (SEE TEXT)

o Frame number will be detailed in the cataloguing.


1962 GREEVES 250CC 24DC SPORTS TWIN

- REGISTRATION NO. 534 CBW (UK)

- FRAME NO. 61/1734


1966 GREEVES 250CC 24RDS SILVERSTONE

- REGISTRATION NO. NA

- FRAME NO. 24RDS101

[IanCordes]

Interestingly, I have 20DC399, just 2 numbers after Tony's one; and mine is for sale too!

20DC397 may have been registered in 1966, but it was despatched by Greeves to J. Stallard of Bilston on 9th October 1964, so it appears to have lingered in the showroom for some while. Original engine # 251D10473

[John Wakefield]

Update on 24DC Sports Twin reg 534CBW https://www.bonhams.com/auction/2818...es-250cc-24dc/ with 2T engine. Something not right here, the frame number on the V5c for this bike is 61/1734 which make it a 24TDS, as its advertised as a 24DC then I suspect frame number is actually 61/2734 if so its going to take a lot of persuasion getting DVLA to correct it. The 2T engine fitted (in place of the original 32A) is 237D1620 which was originally fitted to 25DC 61/3083 so I wonder whats happened to that,? its not on Survivors List. So this looks like one bike to steer clear of. Dear old Tony East was known to rebuild bikes that were not all numbers correct. Be interesting to see what the frame numbers are for the 25DC Sports Twin and the 20DC neither appear to have registration numbers.

UPDATE: Bonhams have sent me a pic of the frame number, it is 61/1734 (a 24TDS) but it looks original Greeves stamping

[John Wakefield]

Note that Lot 351 https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/281...no-251d-10473/ has a ground off and re stamped frame number

[Phil Hyde]

So, no real surprises in the Greeves section of the auction. Bit of a technical glitch brought the proceedings to a halt at lot 344, the Silverstone. Not certain if the hammer fell at 6k. It was lot 346 before things got going on my screen. No doubt we shall learn who bought what.

[John Wakefield]

The results including buyers premium in GBP
Lot341 24DDS101 901JOO 6325
Lot342 24DF119 VJJ982G 4025
Lot343 24DF117 VJJ980G 4370
Lot344 24RDS101 6325
Lot345 32DC140 AJU663A 3910
Lot346 32DD104 406GOO 4140
Lot347 24DC124 WMN250 3565
Lot348 61/3219 110XVW 3910
Lot349 25DC464B BRK68D 3910
Lot350 61/1734 534CBW 3680
Lot351 20DC397 MDX69D 2300

Generally high prices considering the current climate.

[iansoady]

Most of the prices in the auction seem slightly higher than recently. But nearly ?10K for a "Sunbeam" S7 - wouldn't give one garage room myself, but I believe it is a model favoured by the hipster fraternity.

[John Wakefield]

A pic taken at th e auction by Geoff Chapman

[Arthur]

I bought the 32DD and am working my way through it...see the questions I posted ARTHUR

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Most of the prices in the auction seem slightly higher than recently. But nearly ?10K for a "Sunbeam" S7 - wouldn't give one garage room myself, but I believe it is a model favoured by the hipster fraternity.

I'm with you there Ian about the S7, for only about ?5k more NOW you can get a very nice Vincent Comet. Prices for Vins are well down. If you want one buy now. I know, I sold two at the wrong time!!

[John Wakefield]

Looks like dealer Cosmo Classic Motorcycles of St Leonards now have one of the police bikes for sale (VJJ982G) for GBP 5995 almost a 2000 GBP mark up from auction price. BUT what happened to it as the front fork bushes look to have collapsed maybe to tying front forks down in transit https://www.cosmoclassic.co.uk/BikeS...kesJustArrived (Garry stand by for an order of two new bushes)
The other police bike VJJ980G has gone to an ex Met Police officer.

[iansoady]

The massive markup by dealers on bikes sold at auction never ceases to amaze me. A few years I was contemplating a Scott before good sense (or maybe fear) prevailed. I missed one at the Pugh auction which went for abou GBP4,500. A month later it was in a dealer for double that. And absolutely nothing had changed. I do appreciate these are asking prices but even so.....

I have an idea that Cosmo are in some way connected to the sometime journalist Paul Miles who "tests" bikes for Real Classic magazine an he always inflates values.

[John Wakefield]

The massive markup by dealers on bikes sold at auction never ceases to amaze me. A few years I was contemplating a Scott before good sense (or maybe fear) prevailed. I missed one at the Pugh auction which went for abou GBP4,500. A month later it was in a dealer for double that. And absolutely nothing had changed. I do appreciate these are asking prices but even so.....

I have an idea that Cosmo are in some way connected to the sometime journalist Paul Miles who "tests" bikes for Real Classic magazine an he always inflates values.

The owner of Cosmo is Evan Cosmos. What is amazing apart from the huge price hike is the fact that they have not addressed the issue of the collapsed front suspension, I would have thought that would have been obvious, so why post pics of it in that state? they obviously have little knowledge of how Greeves suspension works. Could be that the bushes have turned in their housing due to ratchet strapping down whilst in transit. As to price I would have thought it would have been obvious to the dealer that he paid top price in the auction and therefore there would be little or no profit margin, again no understanding of the true market value of Greeves. I suppose the only way this will get sold is with someone trading in another more valuable bike and so not having to fork out any or little cash difference. As a matter of interest Cosmos also have a Hawkstone (61/2115 road registered 457XUM) for sale, for ?3500 which they have had in stock since August, one would have thought they would have noticed the difference in front suspension between the two bikes!

[John Wakefield]

Cosmo look to have sold the 24DF (VJJ982G) new V5c issued 7/2/24 and currently taxed. I wonder if they have replaced the front fork bushes?

[John Wakefield]

Good news VJJ982G is now with a new owner in Essex who has replaced the front fork bushes and got the bike back into roadworthy condition. Seen here our for a spin in April (Pic Rob Clark)