1902 Rambler for sale
Expected to fetch several hundred thousand dollars, the 110-year-old Rambler Model B is part of Bonham's annual Vegas auctionFamous auction house Bonhams is gearing up for a big event in January 2013, its third annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Sale, with the classic 1902 Rambler Model B taking pride of place.
Previously a drawcard exhibit at the Indian Motorcycle Museum in recent decades, the unique Rambler will be sold off on January 10, 2013, more than 110 years after it was built by the Colonel Albert Pope’s American Cycle Manufacturing Company of New York.
The vintage Rambler has not been restored - just very carefully transported and cared for - and everything on the bike is original, from the wheels to the tank and pedals and chain, even the paint is more than a century old.
Though the Rambler is not America's first production motorcycle (that honour goes to Indian for the 1901 Camelback) it missed out on the distinction by only a handful of months, and beat Harley-Davidson's first production motorcycle to market by more than a year.
Looking more like a bicycle than a motorcycle, what makes the single-seat Rambler Model B special is its stretched wheelbase, which at the time was a pioneering engineering solution that improved stability at high (ish) speeds.
Though it may look bicycle-ish, the frame was custom made for the application, as was the engine at Colonel Albert Pope’s American Cycle Manufacturing Company of New York.
Auctioneer Bonham's hasn't hinted at what sort of money it expects to get for the motorcycle, but it's possible the winning bidder may be paying significantly into the six figure bracket.
Other motorcycles to be sold at the Las Vegas auction include a rare 1939 BMW RS 255 (pictured) and a 1954 BMW Rennsport 254, with sidecar.
If you're in Las Vegas on January 10, 2013, you can find the Bonham's auction at Bally’s Hotel & Casino on The Strip.
Check out the Bonham website for more details.
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