Charity Honda Brings Big Bucks

LITCHFIELD, CT – So much for the book value…

The 1965 Honda C110 auctioned off New Year’s Day at the Possum Queen pageant at the Litchfield Inn far surpassed the $1,000 reserve and even topped the NADA estimate in excellent shape of $2,420. Denise Leclair of Goshen, CT had the winning bid of $2,575 for the 50cc bike, buying it for friend Judy Finerghty.Bike auctioned

Leclair (on left at top) only had one quibble with the Honda. “It would have been great if it were a ’64 because she was born in ’64,” said Leclair, who added that she has never ridden a motorcycle. Neither has Finerghty (right), who declared, “I’m going to ride. I’m going to get my license and ride it.”

The C110 was donated by Henry Wheelahan of Goshen, who sent the bike out for a new paint job before turning it over to Jeff Crampton of Northfield, CT, who got it running again. Wheelahan said he figured the bike might fetch $2,000, while Crampton said he was “very, very happy” that it brought so much for the charity event.

In the original column on the C110, the bike had yet to be finished. Crampton got it buttoned up in time. “It started on the first kick,” he said. “It sounds like a sewing machone – just like a Honda should.”

About Bud Wilkinson

Bud Wilkinson writes the "RIDE-CT" motorcycle column and the "My Ride" classic car feature in the "Republican-American" newspaper in Waterbury, CT. A graduate of Vermont Academy, he received a B.A. degree journalism from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1975. He is the recipient of a Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award in 1992 and a 1991-92 regional Emmy Award for commentary. He currently rides a 1987 BMW R 80 RT and a 2014 Triumph Bonneville and drives a 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata.

2 comments

  1. It sure IS a beauty! Glad you’re enjoying it.

  2. I fell in love with this bike the moment I saw it. Took it for a spin the next day (I have ridden bikes before..just not in the last decade). It fired right up and was fun to ride. Lots of spunk and I couldnt be happier with this vintage beauty.