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NORTH AMERICA’S LEADING CLASSIC CAR AUCTION HOUSE CONQUERS BRITAIN WITH RECORD $38 MILLION UK SALE– RM Auctions in association with Sotheby’s broke records in their inaugural London sale. 85 cars were sold in London’s Battersea Park in an exciting seven-hour auction, including a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster from the Bernie Ecclestone collection, which at $8.25 million, became the most expensive Mercedes-Benz road-going car ever sold at auction.
London, England (November 1, 2007) – More than 85 outstanding cars were offered for sale last night in Battersea Park in a headline-grabbing extravaganza visited by many of the world’s most important car collectors and celebrities – a fitting start for RM Auctions’ first sale in the British capital. RM Auctions European Managing Director, Max Girardo said: “After our highly successful Ferrari sale in Maranello in May of this year, we are now in London where some of the most expensive cars in the world are bought and sold and where collectors and enthusiasts define the pulse of the European classic car world.”
RM Auctions kicked off their first London sale with a “Roaring Twenties” preview party attended by more than 1,000 VIP guests, a large number of whom turned out in top-hats and tails, whilst the ladies sported beads, flapper dresses and feathers befitting of the elegant, glamorous and stylish theme.
The star of the auction was undoubtedly the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster from the Bernie Ecclestone collection, which was raised 15 feet in the air to dramatic music, and finally coming to rest above the auctioneer. Following a fierce round of bidding in a room stunned into absolute silence, the bidding stopped at a staggering $8.25 million.
An astounding and unprecedented 800 bidders from all over the world filled the Battersea Evolution centre for RM’s first London auction. Next to the 540K Special Roadster, the Mercedes-Benz SSK comfortably broke the magic million achieving $2.5 million when auctioneer Peter Bainbridge called the magic words “for the first time, for the second time, sold!”
From the Abba Kogan collection, the 1931 REO Racing Car, raced extensively in Argentina in the 1930s by local hero Ernesto Blanco, fueled a frenzy of telephone bidding from Argentina which only ended when the original estimate was doubled to $929,473. George Harrison’s star attraction, the silver 1964 Aston Martin DB5 sold for an excellent $464,736.
The ultra low 1966 Ford GT40, achieved a high bid of $2,044,842 while the fabulous BMW 507 Roadster, one of less than 260 ever produced, brought an impressive $894,618.
But not all cars on offer the crisp London evening required a large bank account. The first entry of the day, a 1964 Ford Anglia Deluxe Saloon, was bought for $11,618. Acquired in the 1990s by Formula 1 impresario Bernie Ecclestone, this car may well be – next to Harry Potter’s similar transport in “The Chamber of Secrets” – the second most famous Ford Anglia in existence, and with provenance from its famous recent owner, might even become more valuable over time.
By the close of the evening, RM Auctions’ co-founder Rob Myers said: “We are thrilled with this most satisfying start of our new European business here in London.
RM Auctions is now already looking ahead to its next European auction, returning to the home of Ferrari in Maranello, Italy on May 18, 2008. Guests and bidders in London were allowed a glimpse of what RM is offering next year. The star of the forthcoming May sale is a rare and ultra-desirable Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, one of the most valuable of all road-going Ferraris. One of less than 100 California Spyders produced between 1957 and 1962 in a variety of specifications, this LWB covered headlamp version is estimated at $4,300,000 – $5,700,000.
PRODUCTION OF 1125R LAUNCHES NEW ERA OF BUELL SPORTBIKES– EAST TROY, Wis. (November 1, 2007) – The Buell Motorcycle Company celebrated a major milestone this week as it started up a new age of sportbikes with the production of the first Buell 1125R motorcycle at its factory in East Troy, Wis.
Turning a new corner into the superbike category, the all-new Buell 1125R delivers a true balance of street and track performance. Designed with a passion for the elements that have defined Buell motorcycles for 25 years, the 1125R offers power, handling and agility that will take riders to a new level of sportbike riding. The 1125R joins the XB and Blast as a third Buell motorcycle platform. The first 1125R motorcycles are expected to arrive at U.S. Buell dealers in November. The serial number one Buell 1125R will become part of Buell’s history, saved for the Harley-Davidson Museum, which opens in 2008.
“Seeing the first 1125R come off the line marks the start of a significant new era for everyone at Buell,” said Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer at Buell Motorcycle Company. “The 1125R is designed and built from the rider down to take Buell to a new performance level. As we look forward, we will continue to embrace and enhance our fundamental vision of motorcycle design that offers the ultimate riding experience.”
The Buell 1125R experience begins with power, and adds an artful combination of engine performance, precise-and-agile handling, advanced aerodynamics, and superior rider environment and control. Packaged with distinctive styling that leaves many mechanical components exposed, the 1125R leads with an all-new front fairing and radiator cowling which provides superior aerodynamics, rider comfort and efficient air flow. The 1125R delivers race-inspired agility and handling, while holding to the three principles of the Buell Trilogy of Technology – chassis rigidity, low unsprung weight and mass centralization.
The Buell 1125R Helicon engine is a new 1125cc DOHC V-Twin, the first liquid-cooled engine to power a street-legal Buell motorcycle. The Helicon engine is rated at 146 crankshaft horsepower, and is designed to deliver optimized usable power. Its V-Twin design retains the styling and character that has always defined the Buell riding experience.
Buell will celebrate its 25th Anniversary in 2008 with special motorcycle badging, as well as a variety of events July 2-6, 2008 in Wisconsin. (see www.buell.com for more details)
For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into
U.S. CHOPPERS UPDATE–We are going to revamp the entire website from A-Z. For those of you who are already signed up with us and doing business, we would like to include you on our website as an authorized dealer or certified builder.
Please e-mail us your shop info (website address, physical address, phone number, shop name, contact name etc) and any pics of your U.S. Choppers build. An example is provided below.
We will review your photo’s and info for our new site and do our best to help promote the growth of your shop.
Please send small photo’s as we don’t want to crash our server. We will get back to you for larger photos for the site at a later date.
If you are a retail client and would like to submit photos of your U.S. Choppers build, please don’t hesitate to send a shot to us!
We look forward to serving your best interests in the future and look forward to helping promote your business.
If you are not currently signed up and would like to- send us an e-mail with your interest. We have an all new 2008 rolling chassis coming to market by Dec 1st…. it will tickle your old school fancies.
Thank you all for your help and support in the past years,
–Rick Krost
U.S. Choppers
2039 S. Lyon St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-546-4699
Appointments Only Please
http://www.uschopper.com/
HEART O GOLD SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHARITY RIDE SUCCESS–Dublin Mob HEART O GOLD Special Olympics Charity Ride We want to thank our friends, sponsors and supporters for a very successful event. We couldnt do it without you.
We hope to do this again next year, see you there.
–DMC
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BIKERNET HOT BIKE BAGGER AND MIKE COLE BAGGER BUILD TO BE COVERED ON BIKERNET– Here we go; the frame is a Rolling Thunder-4″out, 6″up w/curved legs, 40 deg. rake, front 10″ over Rolling Thunder Springer, Avon Tires, Renegade wheels, Chrome Tahoe, also the rotors, and belt pulley.
The handlebars are also Rolling Thunder, w/integral gauge cups, and Dakota Digital gauges. The hand and foot controls were supplied by JayBrake with a juice clutch master cyl. and the switch housings included also. It has Bert Baker’s DD-6 tranny, Cycle Electric charging system, and I’ll use Grandeur Cycles lock-up clutch. A TP Engines 121 show polished powerplant is on the way.
Supertrapp is going to custom bend the exhaust system when the time is right. The battery and rear fender came from Aaron at Big Boar. The gas tank, side covers, front fender, and bags are being made by Mike Cole. House of Kolor is behind all the paint, primer and sparkle to make this baby shine.
I’m trying to get in touch with Danny Gray to do the seat, as he has done my seats for many years. The jury is still out on the brakes. I have talked to 360 Brakes about this project, but at this time, we’re still lookin for an answer from them. I’ll also do the paint (Candy Red) and graphics. This is a short rendition. Hang on for techs and weekly reports.
BREAK OUT THE CAPTAIN MORGAN–Ever since I returned from the islands I drink Captain Morgan Rum or any exotic spiced rum I can get my hands on. It keeps me in the mood for tropical sex and rides along the coast. There’s colorful paper umbrellas all over the goddamn place.
My 85-year-old Ma is headed on, maybe, her last major trip and she’s pissed. She’s spending three weeks in India. Alison, 5-Ball number four, is currently in Bangalore and reports that it’s a slum, so I got concerned and contacted all the Bikernet Biker Reporters in India. We currently have three young riders in Mumbai and other parts of India, who submit ride stories and fiction. We immediately went on line and checked her accommodations. It’s all 7-Star Hotels and she has an Australian guide.
We’ll let you know how it goes. She’ll be tough to tolerate when she returns. She’s not accustomed to sitting around, knitting. She was in the shop recently and complained about her E-bike, we were trying to sell. “It never got dusty in my garage,” she snapped and I ducked under a welding hood. “Is the battery charged? Don’t let it go down.”
“Good god, Ma,” I snapped back. “I’m trying to build the World’s Fastest Panhead.” Did I really say that? Okay, so here’s a portion of the feature line-up for next week while I fly to Phoenix to ride the new Sucker Punch Sally model for 2008. We’ve got ride tales from India, antique Triumphs from Southern California, True-Track techs for Dyna Glides, lotsa green bikes, and starving GOB from the woods near the Contential Divide, a Helmet fight story, a Tbear feature on a 45 Magnum, with a Sportster top end, and Johnny is working on the Smoke Out coverage while I write the Hawaiian Pro Street Saga. Hang on.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
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