An American man found it in a barn and has kept it for over 6 decades
A rare 1908 Harley-Davidson motorcycle has sold the most expensive ever after being auctioned in January, according to the website Vintagent, which tracks vintage motorcycle sales.
The bike sold for $935,000 after fees at the Mecom auction in Las Vegas on January 28, in the auction posted on Facebook. The name “Strap Tank” was given to this model, due to the presence of nickel-plated steel straps that connect the fuel and oil tanks to the frame of the bike.
For his part, Greg Arnold, Director of the Motorcycle Department at Mecom Auctions, said: “We marketed the bike well, and Harley is the most famous American motorcycle brand, so we had a feeling that it would do well in the auction, but the final price was a surprise.” It was the most expensive motorcycle ever sold at auction.
Arnold said the record-breaking bike has been restored but still contains many of its original parts, including the tank, wheels, drive belt pulley, seat cover and muffler cover.
The bike, which was auctioned in Las Vegas, Wisconsin, was found in a barn by David Ohlin in 1941. It was kept by Ohlin for 66 years, and then restored by Paul Freehill.
Of the 450 motorcycles produced by the company in 1908, fewer than 12 are believed to survive in the world and even fewer are in original condition.
On the auction house’s website, the “Strap Tank” bike has been described as one of the rarest surviving Harley-Davidson models because it is the first of its kind. It is also the oldest form that can be discovered since the ancient prototypes are gone.
The previous record was held by another unrestored 1907 motorcycle of the same model that sold for $715,000 after fees.
