A 1972 Husqvarna 250cc motocrosser once owned by Hollywood star Steve McQueen is heading to a no-reserve auction at Bonhams with an estimated value of £30,000 to £50,000. According to Bonhams, the motorcycle will cross the block during the Autumn Stafford Sale, a two-day event paired with the Classic MotorCycle Mechanics Show scheduled for October 10-11.
Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale Details and Estimates
According to Bonhams, the two-day auction opens its consignments with the McQueen-tied Husqvarna as its first confirmed lot. Bonhams’ International Department Director for Collectors’ Motorcycles, Ben Walker, describes the upcoming event as another epic auction for the house.
Steve McQueen’s Off-Road Racing Legacy and Husqvarna Ties
The actor competed for the United States team at the 1964 International Six Days Trial in East Germany alongside stunt double Bud Ekins. He later produced and starred in the 1971 documentary On Any Sunday, which significantly boosted the popularity of American motorcycle racing. Period dealers credited McQueen’s regular riding of Husqvarna’s lightweight two-strokes in the desert and on motocross tracks with driving brand sales during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Provenance and No-Reserve Market Impact
Selling the motorcycle without a reserve removes the auction house’s safety net, allowing bidders to independently determine its market value. This sale follows high-profile motorcycle results at Bonhams’ Spring Stafford Sale, where a 1965 MV Agusta 500cc Grand Prix racer formerly owned by Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini realized £967,000, marking the second-highest price ever paid for a motorcycle at auction.
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