1910 Flying Merkel is top seller at Vegas auction

Auctions America by RM enjoyed a successful debut in Las Vegas this past weekend, selling more than $4.1 million worth of vintage motorcycles, with an impressive 82 percent sell-through rate of all lots offered.

The event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Jan. 12-14 had strong attendance, with thousands of enthusiasts gathering to see 490 motorcycles and a range of bike-related memorabilia cross the auction block.

The top seller of the weekend was a beautifully restored 1910 Flying Merkel, resplendent in the company's bright orange coloring, that garnered $86,800.

A high-quality 1926 Cleveland Fowler fetched $76,160.

In addition, the sale also featured Criss Angel's BeLIEve/MINDFREAK custom chopper selling for $19,040 as the magician watched from the podium. All proceeds from Angel's "Charity Chopper" sale--including auction commissions--went to his BeLIEVE Anything Is Possible foundation to help children in need.

"We are extremely pleased by the response and outcome of the sale," said Donnie Gould, Auctions America president. "It exceeded our expectations for a first-time event and we received nothing but positive feedback from the buyers, sellers and attendees on the quality and diversity of the offering, event presentation and our dedicated client service."

Participants enjoyed an interactive educational element during the debut Las Vegas sale. The exclusive motorcycle seminar was moderated by the Speed Channel's Dave Despain. Experts Mark Hoyer (editor, Cycle World), Buzz Walneck (founder, Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader), Doug Mitchel (motorcycle author) and Joe Bortz (motorcycle collector) discussed several aspects of the collector motorcycle industry and took questions from the audience.

Full results from Auction America's Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction are posted online at www.auctionsamerica.com. Auctions America continues its 2012 auction calendar in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 16-18.

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