Replica Steve McQueen 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross. Photos courtesy of Bonhams
How many replica cars can attract six figure bidders? A few handfuls at most possibly; and you would think that there are even fewer motorcycle collectors who would fall into that category. However, that’s just who showed up or phoned in at the recent Bonhams spring auction event in Carmel, California. The auction featured an exact replica of the 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross similar to the one that Steve McQueen sat astride in the famous Sports Illustrated cover. Editor Mike McNessor first reported on the bike becoming available back in February. Selling at $144,500, the Husky won top honors at the sale followed closely by another six figure bike, a historic 1925 BMW R32, which set a new record for antique BMW auction values at $139,000. Complete results of the Carmel Auction, including Crockers and Zundapps and many other great bikes are listed at the Bonhams website.
1925 BMW R32
Based on the strong sales at their January Las Vegas auction, as well as these eyebrow-raising sales figures in Carmel, Bonhams USA has also announced their first live motorcycle auction to be held in August during Pebble Beach Car Week. Already listed for this auction is a one of four 1954 AJS “Porcupine” E95, which is expected to sell somewhere around 3/4 of a million dollars. Two of the Porcupines are on display at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, and one was sold at auction about 10 years ago. We don’t have any figures on what it sold for then, but Porcupine E95s have certainly appreciated in value since then, as more vintage motorcycle enthusiasts learn about them. A list of the consignments for the August live auction is available at the Bonhams website.
1954 AJS E95 Porcupine
UPDATE: The Steve McQueen bike was not a replica of the one on the Sports Illustrated cover. It was indeed owned by McQueen, and was similar to, but not the exact, bike owned by McQueen.