SIDECAR HEAVEN: SHROPSHIRE LAD SELLS HIS CLASSIC MOTORBIKE SIDECAR COLLECTION PUT TOGETHER OVER THREE DECADES

H&H Classics is selling a group of unique and fascinating bikes and cars from the Shropshire collection of Bill Ward of Hadnall at the National Motorbike Museum on September 2nd.

Bike enthusiast Bill started out working at the Sentinal Works in Shrewsbury as an apprentice on the lathes, part of his training as a draftsman and engineer. Sentinel Waggon Works made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel lorries and locomotives. The company was later acquired by Rolls Royce.

Bill says he preferred motorbike and sidecar combinations and took his wife and older daughter as a baby to visit relatives in London for holidays. In his later years he bought the Panther which he restored, then he bought the BMW followed by the AerialSquare4 and sidecar.

He owned the Austin 7 for around 30 years before restoring it with the help of a friend and mechanic. He taught himself to spray and completed the bodywork with a stunning finish.

PANTHER BITE:

When the Panther sidecar was restored he started it up with the alternator out of line and the kick back threw him access the drive and broke his ankle which led him to buy the BMW R69 electric start! He never did ride the Panther again until many years later when a friend started it up for him.

His last trip on the BMW was to Onslow Park Shrewsbury Steam Rally last August. Sadly his health has deteriorated and so he will be missed at all the local rally's and shows such as Onslow, Malpas, Oswestry, the motorcycle show at Stafford, and many many more.

His daughter, Alison McCarthy, says: “Everyone knew his BMW. He won many trophies with all his bikes and was very proud of them. I will be sad to see them sold as it’s been a big part of my life too but I hope they go to people who will love and cherish them as we have done. “

The first notable item in this collection is a charming blue and white 1936 Nimbus Model C Sport Combination 750 CC estimated to sell for ￡7,000 – ￡9,000. Unrestored and original it has matching numbers, is in running order and with a Bender sidecar for a passenger.

1962 Panther Model 120 Combination, a bike with a kick!

1962 Panther Model 120 Combination CC 645

Estimate ￡5,000 – ￡7,000 is sure to turn heads. This older restoration has matching numbers, is in running order and features a two-seater Watsonian sidecar.

Then there is the arresting former Dutch police bike - a white 1961 BMW Model R69S Combination 800 CC estimated to sell for￡15,000 - ￡17,000. An older restoration with matching numbers, in running order with a Steib sidecar, it was a Dutch Police bike from 1961-1971 and still carries the original panniers.

1961 BMW R69S former Dutch Police bike

A maroon 1957 Ariel Model Square Four Combination, 1000 CC estimated to sell for ￡15,000 – ￡17,000 is an older restoration with matching numbers, in running order and with a Steib sidecar.

1957 Ariel Square Four Combination

1936 Austin Seven Pearl Cabriolet

And finally, a reallty charming blue 1936 Austin Seven Pearl Cabriolet 858 cc estimated to sell for ￡4,000 – ￡6,000. A recent restoration with photo record, it has been in long-term family ownership, is in running order and has a new fabric roof.

For further press information, please contact the H&H Classics Press Office

Tel: +44  (0)7970 563958  |   Email:  Julian Roup at [email protected]

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

H&H was founded by Simon Hope in 1993 as a specialist auction house dedicated solely to the sale of collectors’ motorcars and motorcycles. Some twenty-two years later, the company can boast a continuous trading history which exceeds that of most UK rivals. The company is staffed by hands-on enthusiasts with over 600 years combined experience, and its specialist valuers are among the most knowledgeable in the industry.

H&H has had the pleasure of handling everything from 1890s London to Brighton runners through to 1990s Formula 1 cars, not to mention a variety of iconic motorcycles and holds a considerable number of World Record auction prices.

With the head office near Warrington, Cheshire and its Private Sales Garage near Hindhead in Surrey and specialists based throughout the country, H&H holds regular sales at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, National Motorcycle Museum in the West Midlands and Woodcote Park in Surrey.