The 250 Cross available here has been sympathetically preserved as
it was when McQueen owned it. This red and silver 1971 Husqvarna
Moto-Cross 250 motorcycle is fully documented with the original
Med-International Husqvarna dealer invoice, dated October 19, 1971,
reflecting Solar Productions, McQueens production company, as being
the buyer of Husky Moto-Cross 250cc Frame No. MI-4473 and Engine
No. 254319 for the total price of $898. There is a typed note at
the bottom of the invoice stating, Ship to Valerians for Steve to
have picked up. Also included is the original Manufacturers
Statement of Origin document, dated October 19, 1971, stating the
matching Solar Productions buyer information, complete with
matching make, model and serial number. Along with that, the
Husqvarna Motorcycle Buyers Registration Card, made out to Solar
Productions in North Hollywood, dated October 19, 1971, the Med
International Selling Invoice (both copies, yellow and pink) dated
October 19, 1971, the California DMV Transfer of Owners Interest In
and Possession of Motor Vehicle from Med International, the selling
dealer, dated October 19, 1971, and an Enduro Entry Application
from the California Enduro Riders Association signed by Steve
McQueen. Under the influence of friend and stunt man Bud Ekins (who
made the famous motorcycle jump over the fence in The Great Escape
), McQueen usually rode Triumphs in the 1960s. But when Husqvarna
appeared in the States, McQueen found another favorite, and
famously rode a Husky in the 1971 film On Any Sunday. The film
created thousands of first time bikers in the U.S. and worldwide,
and sales exploded for Husqvarna overnight. The Husqvarna 250 Cross
from the movie is the same model as this, except this motorcycle
was his personal bike. McQueen was known for riding the Huskys at
Lake Elsinore when he competed in 1970 & 1971 in the expert class.
The motorcycle has been sympathetically preserved; with the
exception of some paint loss on the front fender, it remains in
excellent cosmetic and running condition. The last McQueen
Husqvarna to be marketed, also a 1971 but a 400 Cross model, set a
world record when it sold recently for $230,500. Other Interesting
Fact: We all know Steve McQueen the legendary movie star, the King
Of Cool from such movies as Bullitt, The Great Escape, The
Magnificent Seven, The Getaway, and Le Mans to name a few, but
Steve McQueen is also a legendary name in the Dirt Bike world. Far
from being just a movie star who rode motorcycles to portray an
image, McQueen was actually a very competitive racer in his own
right. Steve McQueen helped bring motorcycling to the mainstream in
America thanks to his support of and appearance in the iconic film
On Any Sunday, his 1971 Sports Illustrated cover, a not-so-covert
race career under the name "Harvey Mushman", and many other
escapades. One of the most recognizable and successful actors of
the 1960s and 70s, McQueens fame in both the movie and motorcycle
worlds have made his personal bikes valuable collectors items and
highly coveted. He became associated with the Swedish brand
Husqvarna in the early 70s, which quickly becoming his preferred
mount, and subsequently featured in many of his movies and photo
shoots. McQueens first interest in motorcycles began in 1950 when
he bought his first bike. As Steve explains A mean old 1946 Indian
Chief. I remember how proud I was of it I right away went over to
see this girl I was dating to show it to her. When she saw it, she
said, You dont expect me to ride around with you on that? Well, I
sure enough did. The girl went but the bike stayed. His bikes had
all been street machines until he first found out about dirt riding
quite by chance. You know that cliff that leads down from
Mulholland to Sepulveda? Well, I was riding along Sepulveda with
Dennis Hopper when we saw these guys bopping and bumping through
the weeds near there, off the road. It was Keenan Wynn and another
guy on these strange machines, dirt bikes they called them. We
asked Keenan if he could climb that cliff. Watch this, he says.
Varoom! Right up to the top. Dennis and I were standing there with
our eyes out to here. The very next day I went out and bought me a
500-cc Triumph dirt bike. Much has been written about the life of
McQueen the movie star. What about McQueen the dirt bike rider. How
good was he? So good he represented the USA in the 1964 ISDT (now
called the ISDE, commonly known as the Olympics of motorcycling).
He began competing in club races and enduros like Las Vegas Mint
400, the Elsinore Grand Prix and the Baja 1000 from Ensenada to La
Paz. He often competed under the name of Harvey Mushman alongside
his good friend Malcolm Smith and his name became associated with
several of his favorite motorcycle brands, Triumph, Husqvarna and
Honda to name a few. With the release of the Honda CR250M in 1973,
McQueen even appeared in a Honda promotional video. His friend and
stuntman Bud Ekins competed in the 1963 ISDT in Czechoslovakia,
where he clinched a gold medal. While with McQueen during the
making of The Great Escape, they came up with the idea to put
together a US team to participate in the 1964 event. Another
McQueen owned Husqvarna recently sold at RM Sotheby's Pebble Beach
Auction on August 13, 2021 for $204,000 (including buyer's
premium). You can see that lot here:
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo21/monterey/lots/r0089-1968-husqvarna-viking-360/1125489
For details and information, please call, email or text Harry Clark
at 1 (602) 245-7200 or
[email protected]. The Husky can be
viewed in the Chicago, IL area.