On August 19, The Quail Auction’s gavel played host to a machine that boasted a time in the garage of The Great Escape star Steve McQueen.
The bike in question? A 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross – and according to MCN, it came with a unique feature:
“The 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross is said to still be in the condition it was when ridden by McQueen.”
“It has not been started since being sold in the 1984 Steve McQueen Estate Auction after his death, and still has all the dents and scratches from his use.”
You could imagine the flurry of intrigue that swept the room when the auctioneer pointed out the dedicated state of this bike.
Regardless, the Cross 400 – which came with a certificate of authenticity, plus the bill of sale given to the buyer back in 1984 – sold for a stunning $186,500 USD.
Paired up next to the other two bikes in line – a gorgeous 1950 Vincent Rapide Series C Black Shadow, and a 1954 Norton Big 4 which sold for $51,750 and $11,500 – the Cross was undoubtedly the bella donna of the hour.
She even beat the iconic McQueen-owned 1968 Husqvarna Viking 360 that we covered back in August of last year.
With daredevils like McQueen continuing to carve our good bike community into a new era, we look forward to seeing the impact of future bikes to hit the block.
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