Lifelong motorcycle enthusiast Tony East amassed a world class collection of classic motorcycles over the years which became a Collection open to the public at Kirk Michael on the Isle of Man TT course.
Tony moved there when he retired in 2002 and often had more than 100 machines on display, including some on loan. He died in February 2022 at the age of 81.
Now many of those motorcycles are coming up for sale at Bonhams Autumn Sale at Stafford across 14-15 October 2023. It’s part of the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show at the Stafford Country Showground.
The motorcycles are being sold with no reserve. Highlights from the collection include:
- 1938 Triumph Speed Twin, estimated at £12,000-17,000.
- 1937 Triumph Tiger 90, estimated at £10,000-14,000.
- 1938 Triumph Tiger 80, estimated at £7,000-10,000.
- 1951 Triumph Speed Twin, estimated at £7,000-10,000.
- 1937 Triumph 6S, estimated at £7,000-9,000.
- 1935 BSA Blue Star, estimated at £6,500-9,500.
- 1937 Ariel Red Hunter, estimated at £9,000-13,000.
- 1965 BMW R60, estimated at £7,000-10,000.
A larger-than-life character, Tony was born in 1940 and became fascinated by motorcycles while still a boy, collecting abandoned machines left in people’s sheds which he would “fettle”.
He went on to enjoy a successful career in the automotive parts supply business, eventually founding his own company, A.R.E. Limited. Many of the motorcycles he collected came to him via contacts in the trade.
Tony was a regular presence at Stafford Classic Bike Shows, selling components and hydraulic lifts for motorcycles. An active member of both the Vintage Motor Cycle Club and Friends of the TT Riders’ Association, he was president of the IoM section of the VMCC, organising and hosting many of their events at his Kirk Michael Museum.
Fellow museum-owner and motorcycle legend Sammy Miller said, “He was a great man. A great friend. A great enthusiast.”