A 1908 Harley-Davidson motorcycle sold at auction for a record-breaking six figures.
The 1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank was the most expensive motorbike ever sold at auction at the end of January, according to a press statement from Mecum Auctions, which offers classic cars and historic bikes.
According to a news release, the antique bike was found in a Wisconsin barn in 1941 and maintained there for the following 66 years.
The motorbike was “expertly refurbished” by Indiana collector Paul Freehill.
The model has the motorcycle’s original wheels, seat cover, muffler sleeve, engine belt pulley, and tank.
The bike was one of the legendary manufacturer‘s first models, known as the “Strap Tank.” Credit: courtesy Mecum Auctions
The Strap Tank is one of only 450 motorcycles produced by Harley-Davidson in 1908, says the release. Less than a dozen are thought to have survived to 2023 — and fewer still are in as good condition as the record-breaking model, according to the auction listing.
The early models earned the name “Strap Tank” because “of the nickel-plated steel bands suspending the fuel and oil tanks from the frame,” says the listing.