More than 30 of New Zealand’s best bikes at annual Webb’s Classic Motorbikes auction

21 September, 2015

Some of New Zealand’s finest motorbikes will be going up for auction this Sunday, September 27, as part of the annual Webb’s Classic Motorbikes auction in Parnell. The lead-up to the auction has seen Webb’s Parnell showroom transform into a makeshift motorcycle museum, with examples ranging through the eras — a 1950 Vincent Black Shadow, through to a 1959 Manx Norton, and a 1979 Ducati 900SS FIM make up the 33-strong selection.

One of the more unique bikes up for grabs is this 1974 Benelli SEI 750. It holds standing as the first ever motorbike to utilize a six-cylinder engine. The Italian-produced bikes were curiously designed by Alejandro de Tomaso — a man far more well known for his work in the automotive sector, having assisted in the production of a variety of cars, ranging from Formula 1 cars to the ubiquitous Daihatsu Charade de Tomaso of the early ’90s. The SEI wasn’t just a pioneer in regards to its power plant, though, as a pioneer in motorbike design. Its angular shape helped change the direction of future motorbike design from rivalling brands, who up to that point in time had employed a more rounded shape to their bodies.

Another of the many bikes worth noting is this handmade 1975 MV Agusta 750S. Expected to sell for between $90,000 and $100,000, the Agusta 750S had an incredibly successful stint in international competition. The Agusta name first came to relevance in 1948, when Franco Bertoni used one to claim honours in the Italian Grand Prix. Agusta bikes would go on to win the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc international championships over the 1956, 1958, 1959, and 1960 seasons. MV Agusta accumulated 270 Grand Prix race wins in total, thanks in part to the services of some of the best riders on two wheels, including names like Mike Hailwood and John Surtees. This particular example has covered a mere 37,266km in its 40 years on terra firma, and it certainly looks good enough to do even more.

There are plenty more incredible machines on display at Webb’s for all to see. If you’re interested in snapping a few up, or you’d simply like to absorb some of the best two-wheeled nostalgia that New Zealand has to offer, viewing kicks off on September 18, with the Webb’s auction house open each day from then until auction day on September 27. Viewing hours are listed below:

Friday, September 18: 9am–5pm
Saturday, September 19: 10am–4pm
Sunday, September 20: 10am–4pm
onday, September 21: 9am–5pm
Tuesday, September 22: 9am–5pm
Wednesday, September 23: 9am–5pm
Thursday, September 24: 9am–5pm
Friday, September 25: 9am–5pm
Saturday, September 26: 10am–4pm
Sunday, September 27 (auction day): 11am

View fullsize

Range Rover CSK — the original SUV

5 June, 2026

The Range Rover, thanks to Charles Spencer King, went into production in 1970 boasting an iconic shape that would last until 1996. The vehicle that would create the SUV moniker came about because Rover decided it was time to add a bigger four-wheel-drive vehicle, one with a 100-inch wheelbase, to the model range. Land Rover made a 109-inch wheelbase model but the standard vehicle had a 88-inch wheelbase.
The new model would be more suitable for road use than the existing Land Rover, which was considered to be predominantly for rural use. To make sure it could cope on any road it came standard with the Rover 3.5-litre V8 engine. The body design was originally sketched by King and went into production with only a few minor touch-ups by the Rover styling team.
According to King, “The idea was to combine the comfort and on-road ability of a Rover saloon with the off-road ability of a Land Rover. Nobody was doing it.”

Ford’s Mustang – the endlessly hip American dream machine

28 May, 2026

Fifty or so years ago, the only place in New Zealand to see a Ford Mustang was on the racetrack. In a local market severely constrained by a lack of new motor vehicles, the new North American Ford was a dreamy icon boosted by considerable motorsport success.
Import licences for cars were limited, and if Kiwis travelled abroad, the amount of currency they could take with them was restricted. What’s more, those funds could not be used to buy a car for importation back home. Yet it was OK to spend the money on heavy drinking at a London pub, Gucci shoes, sable fur coats, and excessive stays at the Hôtel Martinez at Cannes in France.
However, any rare Mustang that landed on our shores would not be destined to pose around Auckland’s then trendy Queen Street on a Friday night but would more likely be found in the care of well-known racing drivers on the starting grid at local motor racing tracks.

More than 30 of New Zealand’s best bikes at annual Webb’s Classic Motorbikes auction

Contact us

Sign up to New Zealand Classic Car's newseltter