An incredibly unusual 1908 Strap Tank Harley-Davidson is now the most high priced bike at any time sold at auction following selling for $935,000, after auction charges, previous month at the Mecum Auction in Las Vegas.
It really is considered to be just one of only 12 of the model in the planet. Here’s why the cycle offered for so much and what makes it this sort of an crucial piece of Harley record.Â
A exceptional piece of Harley-Davidson heritage
Arguably 1 of the most critical designs for Harley’s original achievements, the motorbike is thought of the earliest model that collectors can get their arms on — with earlier ones either getting wrecked or in collections.
Created in Harley’s initial one particular-story manufacturing facility in 1908, the Harley-Davidson Strap Tank product was renowned, then and now, for its research nature. The Strap Tank was offered the moniker due to the fact of how the bike’s gas and oil tank are hooked up to the cross-bar of the body by means of nickel straps.
Greg Arnold, Motorbike Division Supervisor at Mecum Auctions, reported bikes like this almost never at any time appear to auction and acquiring a “genuine” 1908 Strap Tank can be a obstacle.
“It is really not that other bikes are fake, but frequently occasions folks will make a bike like this out of different parts, and this bicycle has several of its first pieces which can make it that significantly much more rare,” Arnold said.
Initial components on the bike incorporate the tank, wheels, engine belt pulley, seat cover and muffler sleeve.
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The most highly-priced bicycle at any time sold at auction
The 1908 Strap Tank Harley is the most high-priced bike at any time offered at auction in accordance to vintagent.com, a web page that tracks the most highly-priced classic motorcycles at any time bought.
Arnold reported he experienced a feeling the most up-to-date bicycle would do effectively, but it is usually a shock when a bicycle sells for as a lot as the Strap Tank did.
“We promoted the bicycle very well, and Harley is by far the most well-known American motorcycle brand name so we had a experience it would do nicely in auction, but clearly you are astonished whenever you sell the most high priced bike at any time,” he reported.
Strap Tank Harleys have a reputation for selling for large prices. In 2015, a 1907 Strap Tank sold for $715,000 right after auction service fees — very good plenty of to make it the fifth most costly bike ever sold at auction. That Strap Tank was never ever restored, which is why it did not fetch as significantly as the document setting 1908 Strap Tank.
“There is a escalating appreciation that persons have for things that are created this way and I believe this bicycle speaks to folks because of that,” Arnold stated.
