Image for article titled Ride Off Into The Sunset On Steve McQueen's Husqvarna Viking 360

Photograph: RM Sotheby’s

Celebrity-owned automobiles are hitting auctions in droves this summer time. The latest is this 1968 Husqvarna Viking 360 raced by Bengt Åberg and formerly owned by Steve McQueen up for auction. If Tom Hanks’ sweet Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser does not hit your place, perhaps this vintage Husky will.

Steve McQueen was a gentleman acknowledged for lots of feats. Several will know him for his intense action movies though other folks will know him for his significant octane adventures. McQueen cherished just about anything with an engine. He was a proficient driver and motorbike racer. In one renowned instance, he and racer Peter Revson pretty much won a race in a Porsche 908/2 with his remaining foot in a cast, damaged from a motorbike crash, studies Hagerty. McQueen even experienced a factor for flying planes.

So, it can make perception that when McQueen needed a superior equipment to get motorcycle races, he went straight to the monitor.



Image for article titled Ride Off Into The Sunset On Steve McQueen's Husqvarna Viking 360

Photo: RM Sotheby’s

In accordance to the auction advert, McQueen went to observe motocross rider Bengt Åberg race on his new Husqvarna Viking 360 at 4 races in California. Immediately after witnessing Åberg lay waste to the area on the third race, McQueen resolved that he required a Viking 360. But he did not just want any Viking 360, he preferred Åberg’s. McQueen’s Los Angeles-dependent production enterprise, Photo voltaic Productions, obtained the machine from the motocross racer. Hear to the ring-ding-ding of that two-stroke:

Åberg went on to win the Earth Championship on a Husky in 1969 and 1970.

Steve McQueen was recognized for his passion of Husqvarnas, but McQueen historian Don Ince thinks that this 1968 Viking 360, frame MF-1987, is the most essential of McQueen’s Huskies due to the fact it was his quite initially. It was the bike that built him fall in appreciate with the brand name.



Image for article titled Ride Off Into The Sunset On Steve McQueen's Husqvarna Viking 360

Image: RM Sotheby’s

The motorcycle’s been by way of the arms of a range of collectors just before getting addressed to an superb Concours good quality restoration in 2014.

It is reported to be in the exact condition now as it was when it was shipped to Bengt Åberg all these decades ago. Its most current caretaker is Blacksmith Garage of Eden, Utah.



Image for article titled Ride Off Into The Sunset On Steve McQueen's Husqvarna Viking 360

Image: RM Sotheby’s



Image for article titled Ride Off Into The Sunset On Steve McQueen's Husqvarna Viking 360

Image: RM Sotheby’s

Blacksmith states that its 37 HP 360cc two-stroke motor is original, as is its Bing carburetor and four-pace transmission. The details ignition was dumped for a PowerDynamo digital ignition for far better trustworthiness, commencing and performance.



Image for article titled Ride Off Into The Sunset On Steve McQueen's Husqvarna Viking 360

Photograph: RM Sotheby’s

Yep, this bike is extra than just some art for a collector to stuff absent, it really rides!

RM Sotheby’s estimates the price of this wonderful equipment to be among $80,000 and $100,000. It’s becoming auctioned devoid of a reserve and the customer gets the motorcycle’s title, along with documentation exhibiting that it did in fact belong to McQueen.

By Harmony