Posted on 01/28/2019 2:15:29 PM PST by Red Badger
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Especially when that book is a scrapyard.
One of the most incredible collections of vintage Indian motorcycles and memorabilia was recently discovered on the property of RJ&C Metal Fabricators in Phoenix, after its owner Rickey Jensen passed away.
There, in a locked shed behind the stacks of barrels, beams, random machinery and broken down cars were 15 Indian motorcycles, several of the brand’s bicycles and dozens of signs, clocks and promotional items.
According to Mecum Auctions, Jensen mostly kept it a secret, and only one or two other people had ever even known about it. But now the world does.
All of the bikes and most of the collection sold for well over $500,000 combined at the Mecum Las Vegas event on Thursday night, where it was the star of the show. But a few of the knickknacks are still available, including several Indian wall clocks and a Chief Scooting Star children’s scooter.
Among the treasures that found new homes were a rare 1908 Single Camelback that sold for $82,500, a 1929 Ace Four that went for $88,000 and a red and white 1941 Four that brought the hammer down at $71,500.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
While that is a goodly sum, I don’t think they would risk that much for a buy......................
Great find...Too bad the guy died and never did anything with them. One of my bikes I rode as a kid was 1941 ULH side valve 80” flat head Harley Davidson with a ridged frame. At 85mph, the motor was barely turning over.
Nowadays? I have a few classic Yamaha’s, such as the first dual sport enduros, like a 1969 Yamaha AT1 and a 1970 Yamaha CT1B to ride and mostly play with and restore.
I love the classics, but just for strictly riding and having real fun, I got a good deal on a Yamaha dual sport, single cylinder XT250. On or off road, it’s just pure fun. No kick, just electric start, lightweight, quite, good suspension and great engine clearance and air cooled with no radiator! These bikes with basic maintenance simply run and run and run. Not to mention the XT250 are probably the best looking dual sport in their class.
I heard a similar tale about ammuntion and Camp Roberts, California.
At the end of the war, they had to get rid of a lot of ammunition, so they dug a big trench, piled in the ammunition (in its packaging) and heaped the dirt back over it.
In the night, it was said some enterprising soul dug down and recovered a few ammo cans of ammo.
The recovery was discovered, so they dug a bigger trench, deeper, and bulldozed everything into that one, nice and deep, so it would be hard to recover.
I for one am offended by this companies name and logo ! Being an American of Irish and Danish/Swedish decent I’m sure you can see why....simply offended I tell ya’ /s
My Dad used to race on an Indian motorcycle back in the late 20’s, early 30’s.
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The exact same legend exists about Stead Air Field, here in Nevada, when in was closed and converted to a civilian field.
There is also the Harley legend about a warehouse full in some random New England state.
All I can say is WOW, what an amazing collection!
Wow, that’s packing the children in.
Plus a bag too, it looks like. (the one up front)
Really beautiful V-twin though.
Nowadays I prefer this!☺
Daniel = 1.5 million
I guess I should check spelling before hitting the post button
Danielle Colby Cushman
I thought it was going to be about Chief Drums In Face, Nathan Philips
They couldn’t afford it. They’re likely pay $500=$700 per bike. Frank would bundle 3 Indian signs or clocks for a cool $125. Cheap bastards.
Now if they had been Paleo-Indian motorcycles, they would have been really valuable.
Mike and Frank would have liked to have picked this!
Let me know when they find the $50. Jeeps, packed in Cosmoline, from the Big One.
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