Steve McQueen's Husqvarna 400 Cross goes big at California auction
The Great Escape actor first purchased the Swedish motocross machine in 1971A 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross once owned by Hollywood icon Steve McQueen has sold at auction for more than $250,000AUD.
The Quail Auction, run by Bonhams at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, saw three prized motorcycles go under the hammer, but it was McQueen’s Husky that drew the most attention. The motocross machine fetched $186,500USD.
Powered by a 396cc single-cylinder 2-stroke, the Husqvarna 400 Cross was originally purchased in 1971 by McQueen’s company Solar Productions. It was then sold in 1984 by the estate of The Great Escape star and has not been ridden since the actor’s death in 1980.
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According to the Bonham’s website, the bike has been “lovingly preserved” in its original condition and also appears to have been signed by McQueen’s friend and stuntman, Bud Ekins.
McQueen, who also starred in classic films such as Bullit and The Magnificent Seven, was known for his love of motorcycles and cars, helping him earn the nickname, the “King of Cool”.
He competed in various motorcycle events over the years, including the famed International Six Day Trial and a number of desert races. He once entered a race under the pseudonym Harvey Mushman to avoid attention.
The Husqvarna 400 Cross is synonymous with the actor. He rode the same model – though not the same bike – in the Oscar-nominated film On Any Sunday. Another example was piloted by McQueen on the cover of Sports Illustrated in August 1971. Swedish motocross rider Bengt Aberg won two world championships aboard the 400 Cross in 1969 and 1970.
The Quail Auction also featured a 1950 Vincent Rapide Series C built to Black Shadow specification and a 1954 Norton Big 4. The pair sold for $51,750USD and $11,500USD respectively.
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