Auction house Bonhams said it sold a 1966 Norton 350 Manx racing motorcycle for £61,980, or about $100,000, during a sale in Stafford, England. The sale price, which was double the top estimate, is a new auction record for a Norton Manx.
The sale also reflects the rising status of motorcycles, especially racing models, on the collectible market.
British motorcycle maker Norton was famous for the Manx racing models it turned out from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. These bikes were best known for their success in the challenging, dangerous Isle of Man TT road race. They have also been sought for decades by collectors who race vintage motorcycles because they are competitive against other designs of the era.
This particular bike was raced by Joe Dunphy and Keith Heckles with the famous tuner Francis Beart tweaking its engine to boost its performance.
