Description
This motorcycle is Lot 20 of Bonhams Motorcycles Online – The Summer Sale; open for bidding 5-15th June 2026. This Lot is available for public view and eventual collection from Bonhams Motorcycle Department, Milton Keynes.
Please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Bidding on all Lots commences Friday 5 June, 12:00 noon.
Bidding closes Monday 15 June, 12:00 noon, starting with Lot 1
Each subsequent Lot will then close one minute apart unless bidding remains active.
Public Viewing (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY):
All Lots:
Wednesday 10 June, 9am - 5pm
Thursday 11 June, 9am - 5pm
Please email using the button below with your availability to schedule an appointment.
Lot 20
c. 1983 Ducati 600cc Pantah Racing Motorcycle
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. * 750237*
Engine no. DM500L. 1* 603398*
This Lot has arrived in the UK from overseas under Temporary Admission. Shippio Ltd must complete all post-sale customs clearance administration, for import or export, on behalf of the purchaser. A compulsory fee of £195 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this service. This Lot may not be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any third-party transporter until Shippio Ltd has confirmed that this Lot has cleared customs.
If this Lot is to remain in the UK, or is not exported within 90 days of the sale, Import VAT at 5% of the hammer price will be payable.
The first of Ducati's 'new generation' of desmodromic v-twins, the Pantah made its debut in 500cc form at the 1978 Cologne Show. Designed by the great Fabio Taglioni, the Pantah engine abandoned the Bologna company's traditional shaft-and-bevel-gears camshaft drive in favour of toothed rubber belts. With 46bhp available at the back wheel, the Pantah was capable of close to 120mph, which was some going for 500cc four-stroke in those days. A straight-tube trellis frame and triple Brembo disc brakes ensured that the Pantah handled and stopped as well as it went in a straight line. New for 1982, the 600cc version incorporated a number of improvements in addition to a 6mm wider bore, including a stronger gearbox, hydraulic clutch, Bosch ignition, and Japanese switchgear and instruments. "The handling and roadholding are quite exceptional, there's nothing like a thoroughbred Italian for finding out how a motorcycle should really handle," observed Bike magazine. A 597cc TT2 racing version followed; only 50 were manufactured during 1982/ 1983 and this rare competition version has been much copied since then.
This Ducati Pantah was acquired from motorcycle dealer Bue David Andersen in Norway around 1989/ 1990. It had previously been owned by Jon Winding Sørensen and had been registered for road use since 1983. The current private vendor purchased the Pantah for track use only and it was not re-registered for road use. Following refurbishment, the bike made its racing-specification debut at a training camp at the ***-Arnos Circuit in France. At the time, the private vendor was a novice road racer and competed in the Norwegian National Championship's novice class that season. He also raced in the Scandinavian 'Battle of the Twins' series. Strong results led to his promotion to the 'A' class, the highest licence level in Norwegian road racing, during his very first season. This success led to the acquisition of more modern machinery. At the same time, an engine failure spoiled the final race with the Ducati. As a result, the Pantah was retired and set aside at the end of 1991, awaiting the opportunity for further mechanical work, while focus shifted to newer 250cc machines and the family's involvement in 125cc racing. Today, the Ducati requires a engine rebuild before it can be returned to running condition and thus is sold strictly as viewed. The machine is offered with a Norwegian motorcycle licence incorrectly describing it as a 'TT2'.
£2, 000 - 3, 000
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.
