Description
This motorcycle is Lot 55 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale (The International Classic MotorCycle Show) on April 25th & 26th, please see the Bonhams Motorcycles Website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 1 - 94 are to be sold from 14:30 on Saturday 25th April 2026.
Lots 201 - 353 are to be sold from 11:30am on Sunday 26th April 2026.
Public Viewing:
Available 25th & 26th April 2026 from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Staffordshire County Showground (The International Classic MotorCycle Show).
The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II
** 1967 MV Agusta 592cc 4C Tourer**
Registration no. not registered (see text)
Frame no. MV4C6* 199006
Engine no. 199-009
** The Lot is from outside the UK. Shippio Ltd must automatically uplift this Lot after the auction, complete all post sale import or export customs administration, and store this Lot until it is customs cleared. A compulsory fee of £350 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this. This Lot cannot be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any alternative transporter.
If the Lot is to stay in the UK or is not exported within 90 days of sale, Import VAT at 5% on the hammer price is payable.**
"By building a version of his fabulous dohc racing four engine into a touring frame, Count Agusta has created a unique, weird and wonderful collector's dream." - Cycle magazine.
Developed from MV Agusta's long line of successful multi-cylinder racers, the first road-going four - a twin-carburettor, 592cc tourer - appeared in 1965 at the Milan Show. With its touring cycle parts, shaft drive, and unappealing styling - more Japanese than European - the new MV 4C was not what enthusiasts expected from a marque with its roots deep in motorcycle racing. Nevertheless, MV's ugly duckling was an advanced design for its day, boasting an electric starter and twin front disc brakes, the latter a mechanical design by Campagnolo. And there was no denying that its engine looked gorgeous. As Mick Walker remarks in his book ('MV Agusta Fours'): 'Instantly recognisable as associated with its GP brothers, it was in many ways almost worth putting up with the look of the motorcycle just to have that legendary engine in your garage.'
Production proper commenced in the summer of 1967, with the price in the USA set at $2, 889. (When it went on sale a year or so later, Honda's 750cc four cost less than $1, 500). Not surprisingly, customers were few, and only 135 examples of MV's first four-cylinder roadster had found customers before production ceased a few years later. Bowing to public demand for something more exciting from MV, the Gallarate marque duly obliged in 1969, upping capacity to 743cc and further boosting maximum power by fitting a quartet of Dell'Orto carburettors to the revised 750GT tourer and sporting 750S.
This example of one of MV's rarest roadsters was purchased by the current vendor from John Surtees Limited in January 1998 (see invoice and related correspondence on file). The current odometer reading is 11, 338 kilometres and the engine turns over.
Offered without registration documents, despite displaying the Vehicle Registration Number 'NBD 12F', the machine appears to have lapsed from both the HPI and DVLA databases. Accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's registration status prior to bidding and will be responsible for any post-purchase DVLA applications should they wish to attempt to retrieve the VRN.
Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/ or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
Offered without key
All lots are sold ‘as is/ where is’ and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
