Cars and rides

Steve McQueen’s Husqvarna Viking 360 Motorcycle Ready To Ride To Auction

Iconic Hollywood superstar Steve McQueen had one impressive ride in his collection that’s now going to auction: the Husqvarna Viking 360 Motorcycle. Built in 1968, it’s thought to be one of the most impressive “Huskies” of our times. It will be made available through RM Sotheby’s.

The famed actor was at one point America’s most vivid image of a rough and tumble man, both on the big screen and off. Considered by most to be a man of few words, the actor was a hit in a slew of films in the sixties and seventies.

AI01

Even in his blockbusters, McQueen was seen as a sort of a daredevil. He did his own stunt driving in the film Bullitt (1968), ripping through the streets of San Francisco in a souped-up Ford Mustang GT. Now, in the spirit of the high-speed chase, the legendary man’s motorcycle will soon have a new owner.

RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s

A Brief Rundown on Husqvarna

The 1968 Husqvarna Viking 360 is an impressive dirt bike. Husqvarna is a company with roots in Sweden (but now Austrian produced) known for motocross, supermoto, and street motorcycles.

Celebrated motocross wins by Rolf Tibblin and Bill Nilsson in 1959 and 1960 respectively gained leverage on the circuit for Husqvarna. In the following decade, the name became a mainstay in the races, claiming championships the world over.

How Husqvarna Caught McQueen’s Eye

The story has it that McQueen first took sight of the Husqvarna in California in 1968 with Bengt Åberg (the two-time FIM 500cc Motocross World Champion) at the reins. A couple of races later, the actor set out to buy the two-wheeler. He became one of the brand’s biggest advocates.

McQueen was no stranger to the rack track which fueled his adoration for the technical stats the monster offered: 37 horsepower, single-cylinder 360 cc two-stroke engine, and a weight of 215 pounds. It looks sharp, too. Yellow accents and the red insignia tie it all together.

1 2Next page
AB01

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button