The 1970 Husky 400 Cross ridden by Steve McQueen on the beach in the 1971 cult motorcycle documentary On Any Sunday is going up for auction in October at the Barber Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama.
The bike is expected to fetch a significant amount of interest if previous McQueen bikes are any gauge.
His 1915 Cyclone sold at a Mecum auction for almost $A1 million in 2015.
Steve McQueen’s CycloneIt was the most expensive bike sold at auction until Australia Day this year when a 1951 Vincent Black Lightning on which Jack Ehret set an Australian speed record was bought at the Bonham’s annual Las Vegas motorcycle auction for a record $US929,000 ($A1,155,000, €748,500) by an unknown collector who is returning the bike to Australia.
Hefty Husky
The Husqvarna 400 Cross should fetch a high price, although not quite $1m. It sold at a Bonham’s action in 2011 for $US144,500.
Yet it is perhaps one of the most iconic bikes in popular culture, along with the Easy Rider choppers and the Terminator 2 Fat Boy which sold at action in June 2018 for more than $US480,000 (about $A631,500).
The Husky also featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated ridden by a shirtless McQueen, the King of Cool.
Sports Illustrated cover photoIt will be offered with extensive documentation, including the ownership card from the California Department of Motor Vehicles naming Solar Productions (McQueen’s production company) and McQueen’s entry form for the 1970 Saddleback 500 Senior Race.
Adding to the star value is a lucky penny – an uncirculated 1960 1¢ coin (1960 being the birth year of son Chad) – that was found inside a clear plastic case tucked away in the cavity of the motorcycle between the engine and frame.
Details about the auction can be found at Bonhams.com/Barber.
Steve McQueen playing on the beach in On Any Sunday