Bud Ekins Husqvarna goes under the hammer at H&H
The bike belonged to the famous racer who was Steve McQueen’s stunt double for the iconic Great Escape jump
BUD EKINS’ gold medal winning Husqvarna Viking 360, that he competed in the Polish International Six Days Trial (ISDT), goes up for sale in the H&H Classics next month.
Ekins was a highly successful motocross and trails rider, who first began racing dirt bikes back in the in the 40s. He raced throughout Europe and the US during the 50s before buying a Triumph motorcycle dealership in Hollywood in the mid-60s.
With Triumph being at the height of their powers at that time, the dealership quickly became favourite hangout for Hollywood royalty including Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman. It was this friendship that helped Ekins forge a career as the go-to-guy in Hollywood for motorcycle stunts, leading to the now iconic leap that sees the hero of the film The Great Escape break free of the Nazi Germany. It was McQeen who played the lead role but Ekins who made the jump on a Triumph, naturally.
Bud rode this bike as part of the American two man team in the 1967 Polish ISDT helping the team to win the gold medal.
The National Motorcycle Museum report that the machine has been verified by Bud Ekins brother Dave Ekins, has the correct numbers bike and has been recently restored in California.
The bike comes complete with lots of provenance, spares and a history file.
If you have a Husqvarna 360 shaped hole in your garage, you’ll need deep pockets, the guide price is £10,000 to £15,000 and the hammer will fall on March 2nd.
The see the full listing, click here.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
