LOT 49 *N
The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II c.1959 Lilac 250cc Lancer MkV LS38 Registration no. not registered Frame no. F3-4017 Engine no. L8-4014
Sold for £7,130 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 49*,N
The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II, c.1959 Lilac 250cc Lancer MkV LS38
The Connoisseurs Collection, Part II
c.1959 Lilac 250cc Lancer MkV LS38
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. F3-4017
Engine no. L8-4014
c.1959 Lilac 250cc Lancer MkV LS38
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. F3-4017
Engine no. L8-4014
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.
Lilac motorcycles were manufactured by the Marusho Motorcycle Industrial Co Ltd, which was founded in 1951 in Hamamatsu, Japan by Masashi Ito, owner of an existing car repair and truck body manufacturing business. The first Lilac was a shaft-driven 150cc lightweight and, like many of its Japanese contemporaries, was copied from a European design, in the Lilac's case a pre-war Zündapp. A succession of larger models was introduced, including a 350cc horizontally opposed twin, almost all of which retained Marusho's trademark shaft drive.
Increasingly stiff competition from Honda forced a wholesale revision of the Lilac range in the late 1950s, the new line-up including a brace of transverse v-twins based on the German Victoria Bergmeister. At the same time Marusho concluded a commercial alliance with Mitsubishi, only to be saddled with an insupportable debt when the deal swiftly came unstuck. Despite an agreement to import Lilacs into the USA, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy and the factory ceased making motorcycles in 1961. After a few years acting as a sub-contractor for Honda, the firm returned to the motorcycle market in 1964.
A Japanese motorcycle rarely seen in Europe, this Lilac Lancer is presented in restored condition, currently displaying a total of only 88.4 kilometres on the odometer (presumably since its restoration). Offered unregistered and without documents.
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. The engine turns over.
Offered without key
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.
Lilac motorcycles were manufactured by the Marusho Motorcycle Industrial Co Ltd, which was founded in 1951 in Hamamatsu, Japan by Masashi Ito, owner of an existing car repair and truck body manufacturing business. The first Lilac was a shaft-driven 150cc lightweight and, like many of its Japanese contemporaries, was copied from a European design, in the Lilac's case a pre-war Zündapp. A succession of larger models was introduced, including a 350cc horizontally opposed twin, almost all of which retained Marusho's trademark shaft drive.
Increasingly stiff competition from Honda forced a wholesale revision of the Lilac range in the late 1950s, the new line-up including a brace of transverse v-twins based on the German Victoria Bergmeister. At the same time Marusho concluded a commercial alliance with Mitsubishi, only to be saddled with an insupportable debt when the deal swiftly came unstuck. Despite an agreement to import Lilacs into the USA, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy and the factory ceased making motorcycles in 1961. After a few years acting as a sub-contractor for Honda, the firm returned to the motorcycle market in 1964.
A Japanese motorcycle rarely seen in Europe, this Lilac Lancer is presented in restored condition, currently displaying a total of only 88.4 kilometres on the odometer (presumably since its restoration). Offered unregistered and without documents.
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. The engine turns over.
Offered without key
Footnotes
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.
Please see the Auction Information and Guide for Buyers at the top of the main sale page, for bidders' obligations. The Spring Stafford Sale
REQUEST A TRANSPORT QUOTE
Please click the link to request a transport quote from our recommended transport company, Moving Motorcycles.
To request a UK or European shipping quote - Moving Motorcycles
To request an International shipping quote - Shippio
This Lot will be auctioned on Saturday 25 April, with the auction starting at 2:30pm BST.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Motorcycles specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAuction Viewings
- 25 April 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
- 26 April 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
Lot symbols
| * | Import low rate |
| VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. | |
| N | NOVA declaration |
| This machine is subject to post-sale customs administration and, for UK Buyers, a NOVA declaration. Whilst the responsibility of submitting the NOVA rests with the Buyer to do so, Bonhams will facilitate the process by engaging an agent (SHIPPIO) to undertake the NOVA and C88 (customs) application if applicable on the Buyer's behalf. A fee to do so will be added to the Buyer's invoice, as follows: for Live Public Sales: £350 + VAT; for Timed, Online-only Sales: £195 + VAT. |
Bid now on these items
United Kingdom
Coming soon
1980 Ducati 900 MHR
£7,000 - £9,000
United Kingdom
Coming soon
1914 Sunbeam 3½hp
£8,000 - £12,000
United Kingdom
Coming soon
1975 Ducati 750 GT
£8,000 - £10,000
