Webb's shares its passion for things well made

MEDIA RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Important Vintage & Collectors' Motorcycles Auction Tuesday 5 Oct 6.30pm

Preview Evening Friday 24th September 6-9pm Shed 5, 90 Wellesley St

Pure Engineering Genius - Webb's shares its passion for things well made.

The market leader in the sale of collectors' motorcycles in Australasia, Webb's is the largest auction house in New Zealand to hold auctions of important motorcycles. Catering to both local and global demand for superior motorcycles, Webb's consistently achieves record prices for collectors of fine machinery.

In 2009 a record price was set for a vintage motorcycle at auction in New Zealand with the, now famous, 1936 Burt Munro/Duncan Meikle special - velocette drag bike realising $81,000. And with a total turn over of $3 million since the first auction in 2008, Webb's overwhelming success confirms that Tuesday night's auction will be an event not to be missed by collectors, enthusiast, restorers and aficionados alike. and an opportunity to celebrate some very special historical machines.

The motorcycles offered in this auction, states Managing Director, Neil Campbell. "continue to reflect Webb's passion for things well made and will appeal to all who understand and appreciate great engineering, from the humble to the extraordinary, with one of the highlights being the pure genius of one of New Zealand's greatest engineering talents Mr Brian Thomas".

The Brian Thomas Collection includes a hand built Manx Norton Desmo 350cc and three of its engines as well as a hand built Ducati engine and all original patterns and moulds. Brian Thomas may not be a household name in New Zealand but he is, without question states Campbell, "one of the world's most interesting motorcycle engineers living today, a modern day old school creative's who's great story is yet to be told." His list of engineering achievements extends through a vast range of engines and (including close involvement with John Briton master piece the V1000) entire bikes such as his one-off hand built 350cc Norton Manx Desmo offered in this auction which was created partly as a result of years of correspondence and friendship with pioneering British motorcycle engineering legend Douglas Lionel Hele who was responsible for Norton's development programme throughout the 1950's. This extraordinary machine, Campbell points out "can keep up with the 500cc Manx competitors as was proven at a recent Pukekohe classic meeting".

The lucky buyer of this unique machine will also receive all the development notes, original patterns and moulds, which as Campbell says; "is a remarkable opportunity to acquire a body of work which represents the collective knowledge and experience of some of the best minds in the field, and the right to start producing a machine that promises to change the face of modern classic racing at the highest level".

Further highlights include a 1969 Benelli 250/4 (Lot 45), which as Campbell explains; "is a wonderful example of focused Italian design which, in its time, secured world domination, while the ultra-economical and environmentally friendly 1963 Honda CD 90 (Lot 38) underscored the design philosophy of what is now one of the great engineering companies in the world. The same could be said about the Molnar Manx Norton (Lot 30) which is a genuine extension of one of the great race designs of the 20th century."

Hosting the viewing and auction is SHED 5, where Douglas Rikard-Bell and his team are also passionate about all things well made. Building their own unique custom bikes for individual clients Shed 5 leads the way for a new generation of modern classic riders.

The auction's opening preview, which last year attracted a crowd of over 500 enthusiasts, is on this Friday 24th September from 6-9pm. Whether or not this event makes you want to don a helmet and leather jacket or just to be part of the action, Webb's offers an open invitation to the public through the entire viewing period.

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