Dec 28, 2011
It looks like a neglected bike long since consigned to the shed, but this two-wheeled contraption’s value belies its rusty appearance. The ancient bicycle is in fact a 1906 Indian Camelback, one of the first ever two-wheeled motorised machines and one which is hugely desirable to collectors. Just 1,698 of the rare cycles were produced 105 years ago, with its ‘unrestored’ state meaning the relic could fetch as much as £50,000 ($78k) at auction. Relic: The 105-year-old Indian Camelback ‘motorbike’ is worth that, thanks to its ‘unrestored’ appearance. The single cylinder, 2.25 horse power bike, may not be the most powerful but could still be worth a fortune. And as it packs a puny 2.25 horse, has a single cylinder and top speed of just 30mph, buyers certainly won’t be bidding on the ancient bike for its high-powered spec. It was owned by the du Pont family, which bought the ‘Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company’ that built it, and this cycle was last ridden in the 1970′s. Less than 1,700 of the rare bikes were produced in 1906, making it hugely collectable to enthusiasts. Whoever buys the machine will probably (or should) use minimum efforts to restore it to a working condition, as complete restoration would see its value reduce. The Indian cycles were the great rivals of Harley-Davidson, but the company eventually went bankrupt in 1953.
It had a rudimentary braking system and a steady foot on the ground would have been needed to help it stop.
The motorcycle is going under the hammer at Bonhams in Las Vegas, US, on January 12. Ben Walker from Bonhams said: ‘This motorcycle is in such demand because of its condition and to restore it would actually take value off.
Source: dailymail.com
