Puch

Each January the Las Vegas motorcycle auctions set the tone for the entire auction year. This year there was only one – Mecum – but it will be the biggest and most important motorcycle auction of 2022, with the most evident trends. Here's what we learned.

The collectible motorcycle marketplace has snapped back into action with Mecum belatedly wrapping up its annual January Las Vegas auctions on May 1, following a four-day-sale. The results are intriguing, particularly if you're a Harley Knucklehead fan.

Usually "Swiss Army camper" denotes a multifunctional camping vehicle, but the Lorinser Puch 230 GE gives it a more literal meaning. After finishing its Swiss military career, this particular G-Wagen has become a worldly two-person adventure camper.

The press release touts Concorso d'Elegenza Villa d'Este as "the world's most exclusive beauty contest for historic automobiles and motorcycles," a statement which reflects the small number of elite vehicles chosen for display each year. This year just 51 cars and 41 motorcycles competed.

The Villa Erba auction saw 11 cars exceed US$1,000,000, an 87 percent sell-thru rate, and an average price of $880,000. The main event though, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, was beyond spectacular in every respect, with the finest of Europe's vast automotive heritage on display.