Mecum Auctions has returned to Las Vegas for its 34th Annual Vintage & Antique Motorcycle Auction, with an estimated 2,000 motorcycles set to cross the block at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. The wide variety of motorcycles slated for the annual extravaganza offers motorcycle enthusiasts and collectors a little bit of everything, ranging from rare, prewar collectibles and highly coveted sportbikes to pristine dirtbikes, Italian rarities and much more, with all of the exciting auction action over the four days streamed live via Mecum’s YouTube channel.
Among the headlining motorcycles set to cross the auction block are a pair of highly coveted prewar rarities from The Urban S. Hirsch III Collection: a 1915 Cyclone V-Twin (Lot S106.2) restored by legendary expert restorer Stephen Wright and a 1938 Crocker Twin (Lot S108.2), Crocker No. 46, previously owned by Ernie Skelton. In addition, joining them is a highly original 1941 Indian Chief (Lot S182) that boasts ownership by just a single family since it was purchased new in 1942.
Other tantalizing offerings include a 1974 Ducati 750SS (Lot S177.1) that is one of only 401 produced, a 1938 Brough Superior SS80 (Lot S174) that is one of 159 built that year and a 2004 BMW R1200GS (S222) that was previously owned by Rush drummer Neil Peart and ridden by Peart on the 2004 Rush R30 Anniversary Tour.
More than 30 collections will cross the auction block in Las Vegas including the aforementioned Urban S. Hirsch III Collection and The Mitzel Builders Motorcycle Collection, both of which are set to offer more than 100 motorcycles. Directly influenced by famed stuntman Bud Ekins, the Hirsch collection is flush with some of the rarest, most historic, original, early 20th-century motorcycles like the only unrestored, original 1910 Hudson (Lot S108.1) known to exist and a 1911 Harley-Davidson Model 7D (Lot S146) that’s one of fewer than five known to exist. The Mitzel Builders Motorcycle Collection is an exceptionally unique collection that includes a selection of extraordinarily rare and uncommon motorcycles, ranging from a 1951 Rikuo RQ Model 45 (Lot F200) to a 2000 PsyClone Custom (Lot F185), even including several turbocharged motorcycles from Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki.
Other collections headed to Las Vegas illustrate well the diverse offerings on tap for motorcycle enthusiasts, including the RVM Classics Collection, The “Slow Joe” Gardella Estate Collection, The Paul Adams Collection, The AMS Racing Collection and The Marco Antonio Collection. Highlights among the collection offerings include an ex-Clarence Czysz 1948 Norton Daytona Manx (Lot S215.1) that was raced at Daytona, a 1909 Harley-Davidson Single (F211) on which “Slow Joe” Gardella won the 2009 Race of the Century at Barber Motorsports Racetrack and a very rare 1954 Bianchi Scudo del Sud (Lot F173) that was found in an old wine canteen in Florence, Italy.
In a unique opportunity, a selection of motorcycles still en route from Japan—those from The Sakura Collection—will be offered via the auction screens at Las Vegas. Since The Sakura Collection motorcycles will not be at the shipper’s Los Angeles facility until Feb. 10, the consignor is offering buyers of a Sakura Collection motorcycle a flat rate of $275 shipping per motorcycle to any of the 48 continental states.
Others to be offered via the auction screens include a 1924 BMW R32 (Lot F150), 1927 BMW R47 (Lot F151), 1929 BMW R63 (Lot F152), 1935 Zundapp K800 (Lot F153), 1928 Indian Ace (Lot F163), 1927 Brough Superior SS80 JAP (Lot F217) and two 1951 Riedel Imme R100s (Lots F154 and Lot F223). Buyers will receive details on when and where the motorcycles can be picked up at a later date.
The 34th annual auction kicks off today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, with a great variety spread across more than 330 motorcycles from 35 different makes including Harley-Davidson, Indian, Triumph, Norton, BMW, Bultaco and Honda, to name a few, more than 200 of which will be offered at No Reserve. A few standouts from the auction’s opening day include a 1963 Harley-Davidson Panhead Chopper (Lot W316), a 1951 Indian Chief (Lot W169) and a 1972 Norton Commando 750 (Lot W283).
Gates open daily at 8 a.m. with the motorcycle auction beginning at 10 a.m. each day. Road Art® will cross the block daily prior to motorcycles beginning at 9 a.m.
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