Mecum Monterey Motorcycles

Mecum Auctions is set to return to the Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, California, Aug. 18-20 for its annual Daytime Auction with a selection of classic and vintage motorcycles. In addition to the motorcycles, several hundred classic and collector vehicles will be offered at auction.

Current headlining motorcycles for Mecum include a 1918 Excelsior V-Twin with Sidecar (Lot F76) and a 1938 Indian Four (Lot F77). The From the Rich Schultz Collection features 17 motorcycles offered with no reserve. The collection ranges from the 1918 Excelsior V-Twin to a 1977 BMW R75 with Sidecar (Lot T158).

The 1918 Excelsior V-Twin shows just 4,900 miles on its odometer and comes with an Excelsior sidecar featuring horse hair-filled upholstery. The Excelsior’s unique feature is its slide-out rear axle, which extends the wheel and fender width to align with automobile tracks—a useful feature considering the type of roads from when it was new.

Schultz’s 1938 Indian Four, Model 438 in red and black, features full-color tank art and a 120 MPH speedometer, features synonymous with the first-year production bike. Several elements of the bike have been restored, including the 77 CI engine, new transmission gears, and the porcelain-plated exhaust manifold that has been restored to its original condition.

Other exciting motorcycles to be offered by Mecum include a 1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank that was discovered by David Uihlein in 1941. Found in a barn in Wisconsin, roughly 70 miles from where it was built in Milwaukee, it was then kept in Wisconsin for 66 more years before being restored by expert Paul Freehill of Indiana. The original wheels, engine belt pulley, seat cover, and tank are included with the sale.

Mecum is still accepting motorcycles for consignment at their Monterey Car Week auction, but they are capping the number of bikes at 100 so if you’re suddenly itching to get rid of a motorcycle, and maybe have an excuse to head to Monterey Car Week, it’d probably be best to get in touch with them sooner rather than later.