Lonati Motorcycle Collection to Bonhams | Mostly American

Lonati Motorcycle Collection to Bonhams Autumn Sale

One of the world’s most impressive collection of mostly American motorcycles – the Lonati Collection – will go on the block at the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale October 17-18. The Lonati Motorcycle Collection predominantly features motorcycles by Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle, Pierce and Excelsior.

“This is an incredibly rare find; 60 fantastic collectors’ motorcycles, all carefully stored in the Brescia based private museum of entrepreneur and CEO of the Santoni Group, Tiberio Lonati,” said Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles.

“Mr. Lonati loved what motorcycles represent, ‘complete freedom’, the open road, something highly synonymous with US motorcycle marque, Harley-Davidson – which is perhaps why he had so many.”

The Lonati Motorcycle Collection is housed in a private museum at the Santoni factory in Brescia, Italy. Highlights include a 1910 Pierce 688cc Four (estimate up to $125,000), and a 1930 Indian 1265cc Model 402 Four-cylinder Combination (up to $80,000).

Other highlights include a 1916 Henderson 1000cc Model F (up to $62,000), pre-war great the 1911 Flying Merkel 500cc “Racer” (up to $31,000), a 1920 Harley-Davidson Model J (up to $37,000), and at one-hundred years old, the 1915 Thor 1000cc Model U (up to $39,000).

The Lonati Motorcycle Collection began with Tiberio’s son, Francesco, who has a great love for motorcycles. With his enthusiasm for the machines, coupled with knowledge of his father’s likes, Francesco Davidson WLA. This first motorcycle ignited a passion, and soon Mr. Lonati expanded to a vast 60 motorcycle collection, Bohnhams reports.

The Lonati Motorcycle Collection will be auctioned of Saturday, October 17, at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Staffordshire County Showground. for additional information, visit Bonhams.

The Lonati Motorcycle Collection Photo Gallery