Four-time 250 National Champion Gary Jones came to Mecums to help a friend sell this spotless 1976 Ammex 250. Jones was the only National Champion to invest in his own motorcycle brand.
By Mark Donaldson
Many a person looks at January each year as a new beginning or a chance to change something in their life to improve themselves. In the motocross and motorcycle world, we look forward to the start of a new racing season beginning with SuperMotoCross (which is new itself) and the Mecum Motorcycle Auction at the South Point Casino and Spa. The auction is held at the end of January in Las Vegas and is the only motorcycle specific auction of the year in the United States.
1980 Kawasaki KV75 — $5500.
1986 Honda Z50 Christmas Edition — $11,500.
1981 Yamaha YZinger — $1650.
Mecums brings motorcycle collectors, enthusiasts and some that are just curious, together for 5 days of motorcycle enjoyment. Each year friendships are re-established with other collectors from all over the world (you may even catch a glimpse and speak with Jimmy Mac of Jody’s Box fame), with many of the attendees being marque experts on specific brands.
1973 Honda XR75 — $7700.
1972 Yamaha JT1 Mini Enduro — $7150.
1979 Suzuki JR50 — $2200.
1974 Honda MR50 — $4400.
Dinners are arranged with other attendees to honor the memory of friends who have passed away, toasts are made and stories are told of the friendships that had been formed through motorcycling.
This year we saw record prices paid for some motorcycles, including the most expensive motorcycle ever sold publicly. The motorcycle is a 1908 Harley Davidson Strap Tank which was hammered at a grand sum of $850,000 plus fees, bringing the total $935,000. Multi-time National Motocross Champion Gary Jones was in attendance this year and on stage to help promote the sale of a very nicely restored Ammex from a private collector. The motorcycle did not meet the reserve price on stage at $15,000, but a private sale a few days after the auction ended was agreed upon and the bike traded owners.
Gary Jones’ Ammex didn’t get bid up to the reserve price, but a little wheeling and dealing after the show brought in $15,000.
Some of the motorcycles sold had many of us wondering “what just happened”, both on the plus side of sales and minus. This is one of the many great aspects of attending the auction and following the sales year to year to see which motorcycles are moving upward in collectability and which ones are moving downward. In this year’s auction, motocross bikes continue to move upward with a few making huge gains.
1968 Greeves Challenger 250 — $2420.
1968 Husqvarna 250 Cross — $6600.
1970 Maico M250 Square Barrel — $5500.
1973 Suzuki RH250 — $13,200.
Our included spreadsheet mostly consists of motocross machinery, but also includes notable sales and “bikes you’ve never seen before.” Notable sales are highlighted and on all motorcycles listed you can click the links to view the specific motorcycle. The price listed on the spreadsheet is the hammer price plus auction fees.
1974 Husqvarna MAG 250 — $6050.
1974 Honda CR250 — $11,000.
1974 Maico 250 GP — $8800.
For the past few years, an added bonus to the motorcycle auction week, is the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame Museum induction ceremony at the Gene Woods Racing Experience on Fremont Street on Friday night. This yearly event is attended by many notable icons of the motorcycle industry. Much of the evening is spent with live interviews of legends of the motorcycle racing community and great conversations with other enthusiasts. The event is well worth the drive downtown through traffic to attend.
1976 Honda CR250 — $8250.
1976 Suzuki RM250 — $19,250.
THE BSA FOUR-STROKES
1957 BSA A10 Spitfire Scrambler — $16,500.
1958 BSA Catalina Scrambler “Feets Minert Replica” — $20,900.
1966 BSA B44 GP —$25,300.
1974 BSA B50MX — $9350.
THE WORK HORSES
1961 Greeves Hawkstone Scrambler — $3300.
1974 Bultaco 360 Pursang — $44,000.
1974 Zundapp 125 — $26,400.
1969 Yamaha AT1 125 — $8800.’
1968 CZ 360 Twin Pipe — $16,500.
1976 Yamaha YZ125 Shinobi water-cooled head— $12,100.
1972 Hodaka Combat Wombat 125 — $11,000.
1974 Kawasaki KX125 — $7700.
IN THE NAME OF…
2002 Husqvarna 250CR “Steve Lamson” — $12,650.
1995 Kawasaki SR250 “Jeff Matiasevich” — $8800.
TEN BIG SPENDERS
1908 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank — $935,500.
1938 Vincent-HRD Series A Rapide — $330,000.
1921 Victoria KR1 — $150,000.
1903 Thomas Auto-Bi — $99,000.
1914 Excelsior AeroThrust — $88,000.
1981 Honda RC500 Andre Malherbe — $84,700.
1905 Indian Camelback — $60,500.
1916 Emblem Model 110 V-twin — $60,500
1913 Jefferson Twin Board Track racer—$41,800.
1910 Thor IV Single—$40,700.
HIGHEST AUCTION PRICES FOR POPULAR MOTOCROSS MODELS AT MECUMS
Auction prices for motorcycles are not comparable from bike to bike at the same auction. The fact that someone bid $13,200 for a 1986 Honda Z50 Christmas Edition doesn’t mean that your Z50 is worth the same. This was a Limited Edition model that has stood the test of time. Some of the bikes on this list got their prices inflated because they were in a bidding war. In all truth, you have to see the bikes before they go up on the block, before thinking that all 1974 Bultaco 360 Pursangs are worth $44,000.
HONDA
1967 Honda Z50…$11,000
1973 Honda XR75…$7,700
1974 Honda CR250…$11,000
1974 Honda XL250…$11,000
1976 Honda CR250…$8,250
1979 Honda CR250…$7,700
1981 Honda RC500 Malherbe…$84,700
1986 Honda Z50 Christmas Edition…$13,200
1987 Honda CR500…$13,200
KAWASAKI
1970 Kawasaki Trail Boss 100…$10,450
1974 Kawasaki KX125…$7,700
1980 Kawasaki KV75…$5,500
1995 Kawasaki SR250 Jeff Matiasevich…$8,800
1998 Kawasaki KX250…$4,620
2001 Kawasaki KX500…$6,050
SUZUKI
1973 Suzuki RH250…$13,200
1976 Suzuki RM250…$19,250
1979 Suzuki JR50…$2,200
1982 Suzuki RM465…$4,070
YAMAHA
1968 Yamaha DT1 250…$14,300
1969 Yamaha AT1 125…$8,800
1972 Yamaha JT1 MiniEnduro…$7,150
1973 Yamaha MX360…$13,750
1975 Yamaha MX400…$5,500
1976 Yamaha YZ125 Shinobi…$12,100
1980 Yamaha TT500…$9,350
1981 Yamaha YZinger…$1,650
2006 Yamaha YZ250F…$6,600
BSA
1957 BSA A10 Spitfire 650 Scrambler…$26,400
1958 BSA Catalina Scrambler…$20,900
1966 BSA B44 GP…$25,300
1970 BSA 441 Rickman…$14,300
1974 BSA B50MX…$9,350
BULTACO
1968 Bultaco El Bandido 250…$11,000
1974 Bultaco 360 Pursang…$44,000
1977 370 Pursang…$37,400
1979 Bultaco Frontera…$12,100
CAN-AM
1986 Can-Am MX250…$3,300
CZ
1965 CZ 250 Twin Pipe…$9,350
1968 CZ 360 Twin Pipe…$16,500
1970 CZ 360 Side Pipe…$4,950
1973 CZ 125MX…$14,300
1974 CZ 380…$12,650
GREEVES
1961 Greeves Hawkstone Scrambler…$3,300
1969 Greeves Griffon 250…$1,870
1968 Greeves Challenger 250…$2,420
1968 Greeves Ranger Trail… $3,025
HODAKA
1964 Hodaka Ace 90…$3,520
1967 Hodaka Ace 100…$4,950
1970 Hodaka Steen Alsport 100…$2,200
1972 Hodaka 125 Combat Wombat…$11,000
1976 Hodaka 250 Thunderdog…$4,850
HUSQVARNA
1968 Husqvarna 250 Cross…$6,600
1973 Husqvarna 450CR…$8,800
1974 Husqvarna 250 Mag…$6,050
1967 Husqvarna 360 Viking…$7,920
1976 Husqvarna 360WR…$3,300
1977 Husqvarna 309CR…$5,500
2002 Husqvarna 250CR Steve Lamson…$12,650
MAICO
1970 Maico 250 Square Barrel…$5,500
1972 Maico 125MX…$,3850
1974 Maico 440…$10,120
1974 Maico 250…$8,800
1977 Maico AW 400…$3,820
1981 Maico 490 Wheelsmith Mega 1…$16,500
MONTESA
1968 Montesa 250 GP…$19,800
1976 Capra 125…$10,450
OSSA
1970 250 Stiletto…$13,750
ROKON
1976 Rokon RT340…$3,850
We hope to see you at next year’s auction.
2023 MECUM MOTORCYCLE AUCTION: WHERE DREAMS ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD Motocross Action Magazine.
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