Cooper Brothers ‘forgotten’ bikes raise £100,000

A collection of 70 bikes found in a garage after 30 years has sold for almost £100,000 at auction.

The classic and vintage bikes belonged to 1960’s trial champions Bob and Sam Cooper, and were moth balled by Bob following Sam’s death in the early 1980s.

The doors to their garage in Warwickshire were re-opened for the first time earlier this year to reveal the haul which included a 1954 Manx Norton which sold for £19,550.

The Cooper Brothers bikes were the star lots of the inaugural Bonhams’ bike sale at its Oxford showroom. The sale of almost 300 lots raised almost £400,000 and included a

A 1922 Brough Superior MK1 981cc which sold for £35,000 and caused a battle in the saleroom as it was the first bike of its kind to feature a saddle-tank.

Other big sellers included a 1947 Vincent Rapide raking in a £26.000 and a 1971 Egli-Vincent which managed £23.000.