The Vintage Harley Davidson That’s Worth A Ton Of Money
A 1908 Strap Tank Harley Davidson sold for $935,000 at a Las Vegas auction.
Historic items have value, and not just for sentimental reasons. Sometimes that old vase your great-aunt gave you before she left this mortal coil was created by Roseville and you’re sitting on a fortune (at least a little one). There are surprises in many folks’ attics and living rooms and most people don’t even know what they have. Or how valuable it might be. Now, if you have something large like a Harley Davidson motorcycle then you know it’s worth something. But, what if it was from 1908?
Of course, it would be worth a true fortune! According to the AP News, a Harley Davidson from 1908 became the most expensive motorcycle to have ever been sold at auction. The Strap Tank Harley Davidson was sold for $935,000 after auction fees in January in an auction that specializes in autos in Las Vegas.
The Strap Tank motorcycle is aptly named because its oil and fuel tanks are attached to the frame with nickel straps. This bike is thought to be only one of the 12 existing models in the world. In 1908, this was pretty clever technology and showed the inventiveness of the early 20th century — especially when it came to getting around.
Because of the well-known American brand of Harley Davidson, paired with the auction house’s strong marketing efforts, the bike brought quite a pretty penny. Now, the past owner of that bike may have the bucks to put toward an e-bike that can go even further and burn clean fuel. Or maybe they will just decide to travel. That’s an attractive proposition as well.
What folks may not know is Harley Davidson created a dirt bike in the 1970s. The brand created the winningest dirt bike with a large modification that was made in the world of dirt track racing. The bike was so successful that stuntman Evel Knievel chose it as his own. This helped boost Harley Davidson’s brand recognition and popularity. This bike was also a winner in a hill climber competition.
Harley Davidson was one of only two motorcycle brands that successfully made it through the great depression. The other brand was the Indian. Harley is now perhaps the biggest motorcycle brand in the world. It was born in 1903 in Wisconsin. Think about the bike that sold at auction. Because it was a 1908 model, it was only five years old. This is another reason that the motorcycle was able to bring in so much money.
Harley Davidson is mostly known for its heavy cruiser-type models, introducing America to the term “Chopper.” However, some models have leaned up over the years and have even gotten curvier with the advent of the Sportster. Harley Davidson has always been able to keep up with the times and define what it means to be “cool.”
In recent years, Harley Davidson has been able to make the transition to electric motorcycles with the advent of the LiveWire model. In fact, you can choose from the LiveWire One and the Del Mar. Harley has also entered the electric bike industry. However, these bikes are designed for kids and are electric-powered balance bikes.
