Elvis’ Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 sells for $800,000
Elvis Presley’s 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide has sold in a Hollywood memorabilia auction for $800k making it the third most expensive motorcycle in the world
ELVIS PRESLEY’S 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide has been sold by GWS Auctions for $800,000, falling a long way short of its $2m estimate.
The bidding ended on Saturday after a flurry of bids failed to meet the bike’s assumed value of $2m (£1,656,000), with 21 bids for the machine were made.
The bike was the last that Presley purchased before his death in 1977, just three months after taking delivery of the motorcycle. With just 126 original miles on the clock, the machine is in extremely good condition, living for most of its life in the Pioneer Auto Museum after it was bought by the owner for a reported £20k.
With plenty of proof the bike did indeed belong to ‘the King’, there is sadly very little evidence of him riding it, as he sold the machine before he passed away.
With the hype before the sale pointing towards the gavel falling in the $1m to $2m mark, the sale of the bike for $800k (£662k) the machine seems to be good value, yet still made it to third place on the worlds most expensive motorcycles list!
The most expensive motorcycle sold at auction to date is 1951 Vincent Black Lightning, an ultra-rare variant of the Black Shadow and only available for racing. It was distinguishable from its road-going sibling by its rearset pegs, single-seat and magnesium brake plates. That machine sold for a shade under $1m at $929,000 or £769,000 in today’s money!
Would you rather have the King's FLH or that racing Vincent lined up in your garage? Let us know in the comments below!
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!
