Bonhams & Butterfields auctioned last Saturday at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, Steve McQueen’s 1963 Triumph Bonneville Desert Sled built by Bud Ekins, motorcycle racer, stuntman and close friend of McQueen.
It was Ekins who doubled for McQueen on the famous fence jumping scene in the The Great Escape.
Ekins built the bike for cow trailing and desert racing.
Serial numbers indicate it was built up from a 1963 Triumph Bonneville.
Steve and Bud’s friend, Kenny Howard, better known as Von Dutch, painted the bike.
A bidder paid $84,240 for this special Triumph Bonneville and another bidder paid $42,700 for the movie star’s 1964 FIM license.
After the jump a pic of Steve McQueen’s license.
