Prepare to bid for unique French collection

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A superb single owner collection of motorcycles, many of which predate the First World War, is set to go on sale with French auction house Artcurial next week (February 10).

Belonging to a French enthusiast who started collecting in the 1960s, the collection comprises nearly 80 pioneer, veteran and vintage machines.

The majority are unique and offer a fantastic testimony to the early days of the motorcycle.

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The collection was based in Thiers, the knife-making capital of France. Old motorcycles often found their way to the central French region to be dismantled so the metal could be melted and recycled to make knives.

This collector rescued some rare and very unusual motorcycles from this fate and displayed many of them on the walls like paintings. From early on, he was in touch with the first collectors and enthusiasts including Serge Pozzoli and
M. Lefranc, from whom he bought some important pieces.

In addition to early French machines including Perno, Werner, Lamaudiére, Janoir and Majestic, the collection features well-known names, such as Brough Superior and Norton. The entire collection will be offered at no reserve.

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Visit www.artcurial.com

Read more in the March issue of TCM – on sale now!


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