A collection of 12 classic scramble bikes owned by well-known competitor and collector, Dave Orbell, will go under the hammer without reserve at the Cheffins October Vintage Sale on 18th October. With connections to some of the biggest names in scramble bike history, the collection could potentially fetch over £50,000.
One of the highlights of the collection is a replica of the bike which won the 1960 and 1961 Motocross World Championships when ridden by world-famous motocross racer and James Bond stuntman, Dave Bickers. Built by the Greeves competition shop for Bert Greeves this MDS 250cc motorbike was displayed in the Greeves showroom in Thundersley, Essex and never used. It is offered without reserve and expected to make £8,000.
Another motorbike with a connection to motocross history is a 1963 Greeves 24MDS which comes with a copy of the factory dispatch schedule showing that it was allocated to championship rider Joe Johnson. This historic bike comes with a photograph of Joe Johnson with it at a Weymouth scramble in 1963. It has an estimate of £3,000 - £4,000. In addition, there is a 1965 Greeves 20DC Sports ‘The OBG Special’ motorbike which has been constructed from a 20DC frame with a 1961 MCS scrambler engine. This ‘Oscar Bert Greeves’ Special was built up in 1988 by another collector and was featured in British Bike Magazine in 1990 and displayed at Stondon Transport Museum until its closure in 2015. It has an estimate of £3,500 - £4,500.
Other sought-after bikes in the collection include a 1965 Rickman Metisse Mk3A; a 1969 CZ 250 Single Port; a 1966 CZ 360 Twin Port and a circa 1969 Greeves Challenger MX4C.
Ted Shepherd, Associate at Cheffins who is handling the collection comments: “Dave Orbell was a hugely respected and much-loved figure within the classic motocross community, and something of a legend among fellow enthusiasts. The motorcycles in this sale have all been meticulously restored and carefully maintained, all of them kept at Dave’s home in North Essex.
Classic scramble bikes form a small but thriving corner of the vintage motorcycle market, with growing interest from former riders and collectors inspired by the sport’s golden era of the 1960s. This was a defining decade for motocross, when icons such as Dave Bickers brought the sport to new heights of popularity. Today, it is those with memories of that era who are most eager to acquire the finest examples from the period.
It is a privilege to bring such an exceptional collection to market. Each bike stands as a testament to Dave Orbell’s deep knowledge and passion for the sport.”
The collection will be sold without reserves as part of the Cheffins Vintage Sale on 18th October, hosted at the Cheffins Machinery Saleground at Sutton, near Ely.
For more information, contact Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767, machinery@cheffins.co.uk