STEVE MCQUEEN’S LEGENDARY 1931 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VL
SET TO GO TO AUCTION THIS SUMMER
RARE, FIRST PRODUCTION VL MOTORCYCLE TO BE SOLD BY MECUM
JULY 26-27 AT THE BARKER HANGAR IN SANTA MONICA, CA
Walworth, Wis. – June 7, 2013 – Steve McQueen's 1931 Harley Davidson VL 74 (1200 ccm) [Lot F238] will be sold to the highest bidder at the inaugural Mecum Celebrity Items Auction: Celebrating the Legendary History of Hollywood on July 26-27, 2013 at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California. In addition to the motorcycle, several other rare McQueen items will be auctioned including his 1969 Chevrolet C/10 Baja Truck [Lot F239] and the storied 1970 Yucatan trunks [Lot F240]. The two-day extravaganza will feature more than 2,000 artifacts and collectibles from cars to motorcycles to props, from the golden years of Hollywood to present day. For more information visit www.mecum.com.
The '31 Harley was awaiting restoration at McQueen's private Ventura County warehouse when he was suddenly diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in December 1979. McQueen passed away almost a year later and never saw the bike restored to its former glory. Mike Eisenberg, a McQueen collector and aficionado, took it upon himself to fulfill the movie icon's vision. Barbara McQueen says her late husband would have been pleased by the end result.
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“Steve was fanatical about antique motorcycles and we once drove 700 miles on a whim to go see a rare bike,” said McQueen's widow. “He had an encyclopedic mind when it came to every make and model, and knew the entire history of all his bikes. The Harley was definitely done to Steve's standards and he would have dug it.”
The bike was built the same year McQueen was born and was the debut of the VL model, a twin-flathead which was one of the most popular touring bikes Harley ever produced. Reliable and sleek for its time, the VL 74 captured the imagination of bikers worldwide and established new standards for the industry.
The Harley was first sold as Lot 601 at the Steve McQueen Estate Auction November 24-25, 1984 at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. It includes the original engine, body and frame, and the paint reflects a period-correct color combination of red, black and gold. Other noteworthy features include rear wheel brakes, three-speed transmission, single tube muffler, instrument panel, toolbox, front and rear wheel stands, horn and black leather saddle.
The provenance on the classic bike includes an original certificate of authenticity, bill of sale and official odometer mileage statement from the McQueen Estate Auction in November 1984.
To consign an item or to become a pre-registered bidder at the auction, visit
www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.MECUM CELEBRITY ITEMS AUCTION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Barker Hangar: 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405-6101 www.barkerhangar.com)
PUBLIC PREVIEW:
Thursday, July 25, 6:00pm – 9:00pm // Friday, July 26, 12:00pm – 5:00pm
LIVE AUCTION TIMES:
Friday July 26, 5:00pm – 9:00pm // Saturday, July 27, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
* Admission: $20 per person per day, children 12 and younger admitted free
SILENT AUCTION:
Opens July 5 exclusively at www.MECUM.com
About Mecum Auction
Nobody sells more than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wis. For further information, visit www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050. Follow along with Mecum’s social media news and join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.
Media Contacts:
Jean Sievers Paki Newell Christine Giovingo
CO5 Media CO5 Media Media Relations Director, Mecum Auctions
(323) 871-0180 (310) 795-7224 (815) 526-2198
jean@co5media.com
paki@co5media.com Christine@Mecum.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mecum Auctions
Presentation Department
(262) 275-5050
Mecum Rolls Out The Red Carpet For "Celebrity Cars" July
26-27, Santa Monica, CA
From Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Bette Davis and “The
Green Hornet”
Walworth, Wis. – June 10, 2013 – Mecum Auctions will be rolling out the red carpet for a fleet of celebrity cars and motorcycles at its inaugural
Mecum Celebrity Items Auction: Celebrating the Legendary History of Hollywood at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA July 26-27, 2013. View an updated list of celebrity, collector cars now online at: http://bit.ly/ZIeAzg .A lucky buyer can experience how “The King” and the Memphis Mafia cruised with Elvis Presley's former
1972 Cadillac Custom Estate Wagon (Lot S210). This custom wagon was built from a Sedan Deville using sections from General Motors’ full-size station wagon lineup. The automobile features a forward-facing third row seat and a “clamshell” two-piece tailgate with glass that retracts into the roof, and a door that retracts into the lower body.|
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Crossing the block for the Rat Pack aficionado is a
1989 Jaguar XJS (Lot S169) that Frank Sinatra used as his main mode of transportation in Palm Springs. Documented by its entire California DMV history, this Hunter Green 2-door coupe with room for four sports the powerful V-12 engine under the hood. The inside is typical of the crooner’s inimitable style: tilt steering, power door locks and windows, leather seats, and wood interior accents.Other collector cars to be featured include a George Barris Custom built 1957 Chevy Coupe for Ringo Starr (Lot S235),
Bette Davis’ 1980 Ford Mustang (Lot S129), a 1965 Chrysler Imperial used in the 2011 film The Green Hornet (Lot S278), the 1973 Chevrolet El Camino used in the popular TV series My Name is Earl (Lot S369), a 2007 GMC Yukon featured in CSI: Miami (Lot S329) and the custom-made “Flintstone Family Car” from the 1994 feature film The Flintstones.Mecum’s two-day celebrity items auction extravaganza will celebrate the legendary history of Hollywood focusing on vintage film, television, music and pop culture memorabilia, all with amazing celebrity history. In addition to cars and motorcycles, the inaugural auction will include more than 2,000 items ranging featuring a wide range of personal items and rare artifacts from John Lennon, Steve McQueen, Ringo Starr, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Jack Nicholson, Jimmy Stewart, Roy Rogers, Evel Knievel, Hunter S. Thompson, Timothy Leary, Gene Kelley, Errol Flynn, Burt Reynolds and much more!
To become a pre-registered bidder at the auction, visit
www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.MECUM CELEBRITY ITEMS AUCTION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Barker Hangar
3021 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405-6101
PUBLIC PREVIEW:
Thursday, July 25, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday, July 26, 12:00pm – 5:00pm
LIVE AUCTION TIMES:
Friday July 26, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday, July 27, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
* Admission: $20 per person per day, children 12 and younger admitted free
SILENT AUCTION: Opens July 5 exclusively at
Mecum.comAbout Mecum Auction
Nobody sells more than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world
leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the
United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars
for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more
than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum
Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wis. For
further information, visit www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050. Follow along
with Mecum’s social media news and join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
Pinterest and Instagram.
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DENNIS HOPPER AND STEVE MCQUEEN MOTORCYCLES
ADDED TO THE MECUM CELEBRITY ITEMS AUCTION: JULY 26 & 27
RARE AND VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES
JOIN A GROWING LIST OF COLLECTIBLE VEHICLES
SET TO HIT THE AUCTION BLOCK THIS SUMMER!
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Walworth, Wis., – June 20, 2013 – Mecum has announced the addition of two vintage, celebrity motorcycles to the upcoming Celebrity Items Auction taking place July 26-27 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. A
1968 Husqvarna 250T Commando previously owned by actor Dennis Hopper and a 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross previously owned and raced by actor Steve McQueen join a growing list of previously announced collectible vehicles including personal cars from Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and actress Bette Davis, alongside cars from films including the Green Hornet, and more! In addition, another unique piece previously owned by McQueen, a late 1890s Hendee & Nelson Silver King bicycle, will also be up for auction.Perhaps no other figure in acting, other than Steve McQueen, has a legacy so closely tied to motorcycling. Hopper's portrayal of Billy on a cross-country motorcycle trip in “Easy Rider” is credited with revolutionizing Hollywood in the late sixties and firmly established him a counter-culture icon. The actor raced motorcycles with McQueen along the dirt firebreaks from Coldwater Canyon to the Pacific, cruised with the Hells Angels and owned several motorcycles throughout his lifetime.
Dennis Hopper’s
1968 Husqvarna 250T Commando [Lot F310] is one of only 300 Commando's ever produced and includes many special features: 21” front, single cylinder two-stroke engine, CEV speedometer, headlight, horn and tail light, leather tank bag and single muffler. An original DMV release of liability shows the Husqvarna was originally registered to Dennis Lee Hopper of Venice, California, and will be included in this sale. This is the first time ever a Hopper bike has been offered at auction and Mecum is honored to bringing it across the block.Steve McQueen’s
1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross [Lot F311] with its signature red and chrome gas tank patch, mud flap, Magura cables, and brake and clutch lever dust covers, is identical to the one McQueen famously rode shirtless on the cover of “Sports Illustrated” and in the whimsical beach scene outside of Camp Pendleton for “On Any Sunday.”Lastly, McQueen’s personal bicycle, a late
1890s Hendee & Nelson Silver King [Lot F236] will also make its way to the auction block. This unique piece pre-dates the Hendee & Nelson work bikers have come to know and love, as co-founders and partners of the famed Indian Motorcycle Company. The bicycle features solid rubber tires on wooden rims, a vintage leather seat, and a portion of 19th century lantern on the front handlebars. A painted plaque that reads “Steve McQueen” hangs from the cross bar. The bike comes with a letter of authenticity signed by McQueen’s widow Barbara Minty McQueen.Previously announced vehicles headed to the auction block include
Steve McQueen's 1931 Harley Davidson VL 74 (1200 ccm) [Lot F238] and 1969 Chevrolet C/10 Baja Truck (Lot F239). Other collector cars to be featured include Elvis Presley’s personal 1972 Cadillac Custom Estate Wagon (Lot S210), Frank Sinatra’s personal 1989 Jaguar XJS (Lot S169), a George Barris Custom built 1957 Chevy Coupe for Ringo Starr (Lot S235), Bette Davis’ 1980 Ford Mustang (Lot S129), a 1965 Chrysler Imperial used in the 2011 film The Green Hornet (Lot S278), the 1973 Chevrolet El Camino used in the popular TV series My Name is Earl (Lot S369), a 2007 GMC Yukon featured in CSI: Miami (Lot S329) and the custom-made “Flintstone Family Car” from the 1994 feature film The Flintstones.Mecum Auctions, the largest collector car auction house in the world, recently announced the Mecum Celebrity Items Auction: Celebrating the Legendary History of Hollywood, a two-day extravaganza at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA July 26-27, 2013. Mecum will display and present extraordinary pieces of entertainment history focused on vintage Hollywood, music and pop culture memorabilia, all with amazing celebrity history. It will feature a remarkable, wide range of more than 2,000 personal items and rare artifacts to motorcycles, cars and more from the Golden Years of Hollywood to present day. Select items will be available online for silent auction beginning July 5 at
www.mecum.com.To consign an item or to become a pre-registered bidder at the auction, visit
www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050.MECUM CELEBRITY ITEMS AUCTION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Barker Hangar: 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405-6101 (
PUBLIC PREVIEW:
Thursday, July 25, 6:00pm – 9:00pm // Friday, July 26, 12:00pm – 5:00pm
LIVE AUCTION TIMES:
Friday July 26, 5:00pm – 9:00pm // Saturday, July 27, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
* Admission: $20 per person per day, children 12 and younger admitted free
SILENT AUCTION:
Opens July 5 exclusively at
www.MECUM.comAbout Mecum Auction
Nobody sells more than Mecum. Nobody. The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wis. For further information, visit
www.mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050. Follow along with Mecum’s social media news and join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.
