On August 18-20, Mecum is hosting two auctions – one of which is solely for motorcycles! 50 bikes will be up on the block – here’s a list of my 5 favorites. Or you can click here for all of the lots.
1. 1914 Flying Merkel – billed as “the next thing to flying,” the Flying Merkel is an icon in American motorcycling history. The company was acquired in 1911 by Miami Cycle and Manufacturing Company of Middletown, Ohio – they bestowed the legendary name and paint scheme upon the bike. This example is unrestored and was in the same family (AMCA founding member and AMA Hall of Fame inductee Emmett Moore) for over five decades. It has a Merkel telescopic fork, monoshock in the back, a luggage rack and a toolbox. For more on this legendary marque, check out this page dedicated to the brand.
2. 1942 Indian Four – Serial number 1 from the last year of Indian Four production. It’s been restored at some point in the past. Serial number 1 of the entire production run is obviously valuable, but does #1 in a given year matter at all?
3. 1939 Brough Superior 11-50 with Petrol Tube Sidecar – when it was introduced in ’33, the 11-50 was the largest bike that Brough had put into series production. It was marketed as a tourer with a JAP engine and the bike was priced between the SS80 and SS100. This example was one of 47 built in 1935, but the frame was later replaced with a ’39 unit. The Petrol Tube sidecar is #101 and is claimed to be the first one built.
4. 1938 Crocker Small Tank – Crocker was an American motorcycle manufacturer that got into the V-Twin game in 1935. The man in charge, Al Crocker, was so confident about his engine that he apparently offered a ‘money back guarantee’ to any owner who lost to a unmodified Harley or Indian. Some time in 1938, Crocker offered a bigger gas tank so the earlier bikes are sometimes called the “Small Tanks”. For more on the Crocker story, check out this excellent article on The Vintagent, where Paul d’Orleans suggests that Crocker built about 72 V-Twin bikes in total before WWII work restrictions prevented motorcycle production – Al didn’t pick it back up after the war was over.
5. 2014 Lotus C-01 – one of 100 built, these were designed by Daniel Simon, the same guy who penned the Lightcycles from Tron: Legacy. It’s never been ridden and Mecum thinks it’s the only one in North America. Original MSRP was $137,000 and it produced nearly 200 horsepower from a 1,195cc KTM engine. I never understood this bike because something with the Lotus name should be small, light, and just have adequate power. But it sure is unique, I guess. For more information, check out the official Lotus page on this bike.
Again, here’s a list of all the motorcycles for sale. What’s your favorite?
Bonus automotive content: Mecum’s also auctioning a few cars, and my favorite has to be this 1966 Ford GT40 Mk1 – the first road model delivered to the US! It was Ford’s PR car and test/evaluation vehicle. So cool:
This bike-uriousity brought to you by John K!