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This 1908 Harley set a brand new file for Mecum in Las Vegas. MEcum Auctions.
A 1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank, Mecum Auctions
WE LOVE CAFÉ racers, we love bobbers, and we love a killer scrambler. However we additionally love nice classics, and generally they arrive from an unlikely producer. This yr at Mecum’s Las Vegas public sale, a uncommon bike almost bought for $1 million, and it wasn’t a Henderson, or an MV Agusta, not even a Vincent or a uncommon Indian. Nope. It was a Harley-Davidson.
1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank, Mecum Public sale
The costliest bike bought this yr on the 2023 Mecum public sale was a 1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank. This uncommon bike has an fascinating pedigree that makes it a one in all a form. Lower than a dozen of those bikes exist, nonetheless this one may very well be probably the most authentic. This Strap Tank, so known as as a result of the fuel tank and oil tank are held to the bicycle-like body with nickel strap, is likely one of the oldest surviving HDs and predates panhead Harleys by many years.
This Harley bought for $935,000 at public sale, Mecum Public sale
When the public sale gavel fell, the bike went for $850,000. That works out to $935,000 after public sale charges. Watch the gavel fall in Mecum’s video.
The seat cowl is likely one of the authentic elements of this 1908 Harley, Mecum Public sale
This explicit Strap Tank was discovered by bike collector David Uihlein in 1941, and he stored it for 66 years. Sure, it was restored, however it’s one of the vital right and authentic bikes from that period. It has the unique tank, wheels, engine belt pulley, seat cowl and muffler sleeve.
The tank is held on by a nickel strap, Mecum Public sale
Sure, that’s a variety of scratch for an outdated Harley. It’s not the costliest bike ever bought, however it’s the costliest bike ever bought by Mecum in Vegas. It wasn’t the primary Strap Tank that Mecum ever bought, in 2021 the corporate bought a 1907 Strap Tank for $297,000. However this bike has a well-documented historical past, in addition to well-documented authentic 115-year-old elements.
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