September 02 - 3rd Most Expensive Bike In The World

The weekend auction of Elvis' 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide never reached the hoped-for $2 million mark - but for a 40-year-old classic motor-bike the price certainly rates.

The King was a well-known motorbike fiend. Between the Cadillacs and the Harleys, he was probably the best “influencer” to ever endorse these brands. Elvis’s 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide had been on display at the Pioneer Auto Museum for over thirty years before this auction. The bike has now found a new owner and took the third spot in the most expensive motorcycles ever sold ranking.

Back when they announced the bike would be up for grabs at the Artifacts of Hollywood and Music auction, the folks at GWS Auctions expected the bike to fetch as much as $2M. Had the auction reached the ambitious estimate the 76’ Electra Glide would have become the most expensive bike in the world. However, as much as people still love ELVIS even 40 years after his death, nobody was willing to throw their millions at the auctioneers to get their hands on a motorcycle his butt had touched. Instead the Harley fetched only a third of the anticipated amount, going, going, gone for $800k. But it still allowed the bike to become the third most expensive motorcycle in the world. The title of the most expensive bike ever sold goes to a 1951 Vincent Black Lightning Australian Jake Ehret set a speed record on in 1954. The bike was auctioned off in 2018 for the modest sum of $929,000.

Bought brand-new back in 1976, Elvis had the Harley personalized with a custom paint scheme. He only kept the bike three months before selling it to a Harley-Davidson dealership, shortly before his death. This is the very last motorcycle the King ever purchased. After changing hands a few times, the Electra Glide found its way to the museum where it was frozen in time with only 126 miles on the counter.

"Loving You" Hot Rod Sold

This custom built, one-of-a-kind hotrod was build by John Athan in 1937 was used in Elvis Presley's first starring role in a film, "Loving You." This iconic car played a major role in the film and at one point in the film Elvis even personally describes the one of a kind car. It was sold at the Artifacts of Hollywood and Music auction, the folks at GWS Auctions for US$ 150,000 on August 31, 2019.

The car has been on display at the Smithsonian Museum twice, The Peterson Museum in Los Angeles and the NHRA (National Hot Rod Museum) in Pamona, CA. The car has been deemed "The Elvis Roadster." Mr. Athan was even asked by Elvis to sell him the car and he refused. 

It comes with photos sent to Mr. Athan by Paramount Pictures in an envelope with three period photos of Elvis on set in the car during filming that is postmarked from the studio and dated September 1957. 

(Source: Elvis Information Network / GWS Auctions)