Talk to any veteran or avid car auction buyer, and he’ll probably tell you he doesn’t miss—or at least try not to—the annual vintage and antique motorcycle auction held in Las Vegas. Aside from the blinking neon lights, casinos, and the Strip, the trip to the city that never sleeps is made even more memorable if you get to win any of the coveted and sometimes rare motorcycle during the auction.
Good thing for you, you don’t have to rely on their stories only. You can now experience it yourself as the vintage motorcycle auction is slated to happen by next year. Get a preview right here:
- The annual auction is of Mecum, the country’s biggest auctioneer of vintage vehicles. It has been operating for more than 25 years and boasts of selling no less than 15,000 cars each year through its auctions. It also stages at least two auctions per month.
- The following year’s annual vintage motorcycle auction is scheduled on January 5–9, 2016, at South Point Casino and Exhibit Hall. It’s located in 9777 Las Vegas Boulevard. However, the first two days are meant only for sellers only. This means that the venue will not be open to the public. Seller’s check-in will be from 8am to 6pm.
- The public auction, on the other hand, begins at 4pm on Thursday (January 7) and 9am on Friday (January 8) and Saturday (January 9). But the gates will be opened at 8am on the three dates.
- It’s expected that at least 700 antique or vintage motorcycles will be available for auction. In 2015, the auction was able to sell at least 590 out of 714 or a huge turnout rate of more than 80%. To whet your appetite, some of the auctioned motorcycles include:
- 1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank
- 1918 Harley-Davidson Board Track Racer
- 1979 Honda CR250 R (Red Rocket)
- 1967 Triumph Bonneville T120 TT S
- 1961 BSA Gold Star Catalina
You can view the lots here.
- There are many ways to bid. The auction allows you to bid through phone or via the Internet. If you go the Mecum auction website, you can see on the upper-right corner a link to sign up. Forms are also available on the website. The minimum buyer’s premium for motorcycles is 10% of the final price as long as it’s not below $250.
- The buyer’s premium is different from the price you pay for entrance. You can choose between a 1-day pass or a full event pass. The one-day pass costs $25 per person. If you want to attend all the public auctions, the price is $60 per person. You can bring children 12 years old and above for free.
- Expect to pay a lot. We’re talking about rare finds after all. These motorcycles are not only vintage, but many of them have been beautifully restored and even in good running condition. Based on the top 10 sales in 2015 auction, the winning bids range from $66,000 to more than $125,000. The most expensive sold was a 1952 Vincent C Rapide, which was won for $132,500.
Gear up and prepare for one of the most exciting and biggest vintage auctions in the country.
