It’s that time of the year again for Mecum’s annual motorcycle auction, with some 2,000 motorcycles up for bid in Las Vegas. It will take place January 29 to February 1 at South Point Hotel & Casino, and it features a stunning array of interesting and desirable motorcycles.
In addition to more than 100 Harley-Davidsons, the auction has about 50 Indians and three Crockers, one of the most prized American brands in every auction. There’s also a few Brough-Superiors, five Vincents, plus hundreds of European and Japanese machines.
This year’s auction features 28 collections going up for bid, which includes a selection of rare and uncommon motorcycles. From Lee Mitzel’s collection is 100 bikes, including a 1951 Rikuo RQ Model 45, which is basically a 1930s Harley-Davidson 45 flathead produced under license for the Japanese market. It’s one of perhaps only 50 that were made postwar with a Springer front end. Also from Mitzel are nine Harleys dating back to a 1920 WR Sport Twin and a 1947 FL Knucklehead, plus a 1914 Henderson Model C.
“It’s time to let go,” said Mitzel, “and there’s gonna be a tear or two.”
The most prized collection at the auction is the Urban S. Hirsch III collection, which includes more than 100 bikes, most of them from the early 1900s. Snatch up a 1912 Pierce Four with a 43ci 4-cylinder T-head engine that received refurbishing by noted restorer Steve Huntzinger. Also on offer is a 1914 Excelsior V-Twin, with its 61ci air-cooled IOE V-Twin engine rated at 10 hp. Or perhaps you’d like a 1915 Cyclone V-Twin, which was brought up to spec by expert restorer Stephen Wright.
Steve Huntzinger: Craftsman of the Classics
Hirsch’s collection also includes a 1920 Ace Four, which was a modernized version of the earlier Henderson Fours. Also, a 1929 Cleveland Four, the last model year for Cleveland, which is powered by a 61ci IOE inline 4-cylinder engine factory rated at 40 hp. Another interesting 4-cylinder American bike is a 1933 Indian Four, with its 78ci IOE inline 4-cylinder engine factory rated at 32 hp.
Also of note in Hirsh’s collection are a 1928 Harley-Davidson JDH Twin Cam, Harley’s first hot-rod roadster, and a 1938 Crocker, #46 of less than 100. When they entered production in 1936, Crockers were the fastest bikes on American roads, with more power than the Knucklehead Harleys and meticulous build quality. This well-documented example, which had previously been owned by Crocker aficionado Ernie Skelton, should easily exceed $200,000.
The most interesting Hirsh bike is a 1915 Williams Clady, which is a motorcycle I’ve never heard of. Designed by J. Newton Williams, it’s powered by a 3-cylinder radial engine located in the rear wheel! It’s believed to be the sole survivor of only four rotary-engine two-wheelers Williams built between 1910 and 1915. This Model C (also seen at the top of this page) is the only one of its kind with this frame.
The 873cc 3-cylinder rotary engine transfers power via a 2-speed transmission, and this example was reportedly ridden 11,000 miles by Williams. In 1997, it was ridden Brad Wilmarth, winner of two consecutive Cannonball motorcycle runs, who reported it a challenging ride but a remarkable machine.
Also on the block will be the Coastal Texas Collection, a Harley-heavy assemblage of models from a 1941 Knucklehead to a bunch of Sportsters and Super Glides up to a 2014 Road King.
Music fans will have a chance to bid on a very special bike formerly owned by Rush drummer Neal Peart. After his daughter died in a car crash and his wife passed away from cancer, Peart saddled up on his 2004 BMW R 1200 GS and set off on what would become a 50,000-mile journey across Canada, the U.S., and parts of Central America to clear his head of despair. As the lyricist for Rush, Peart then related his journey in a book, Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road.
Sadly, Peart passed away from cancer in 2020 at the age of 67, but his BMW is going up for bid at Mecum. The package also includes a tank bag that contains a pair of Peart’s worn drumsticks, a Rush R 40 Tour keychain, and a map of Ontario presumably used by Peart. A normal GS with a lot of miles would be worth only a few thousand dollars, but the provenance and celebrity value of Peart’s will likely surge the selling price up near $100K for this one-of-a-kind Beemer.
Find out more about the bikes up for bid at Mecum Motorcycle Auction by clicking this link.
