Post by dungbug on Jan 9, 2012 23:18:51 GMT
A rusty 106-year-old motorbike is expected to fetch £50,000 when it goes under the hammer at auction.
The 1906 Indian Camelback was one of the first two-wheeled motorised machines. The single cylinder 311cc 4-stroke petrol engine produced 2.25hp.
Only 1,698 were made that year and this example is one of few remaining and enthusiasts are particularly keen on it because of its "unrestored" state.
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 1970s.
Whoever buys the machine will probably use minimum efforts to restore it to a working condition, as a complete restoration would actually 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 hobnail boot on the ground would have been needed to help it stop.
The motorcycle is going under the hammer at Bonhams in Las Vegas 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.
"The motorcycle will probably be 'oily-ragged', which means wiping it down with oil to preserve it as it is."
