Towards the end of the 1970s, Evel Knievel’s death-defying career as a daredevil had begun its downward spiral. Failing in his attempts at jumping the Snake River Canyon, the double-decker buses at Wembley, and then finally the tank of “man-eating” sharks in Chicago, the star was ready to call it quits. But in a last-ditch effort to capitalize on his former fame, Knievel starred in a half-baked 1977 motorcycle action movie dubbed Viva Knievel!
As part of its July Entertainment Memorabilia sale, Heritage Auctions will be offering the very bike that Knievel rode throughout the film: the ‘Stratocycle.’ Based on a 1976 Harley-Davidson XLCH Sportster 1000, it features a custom-made fiberglass fairing complete with built-in wings, an aircraft-inspired tail, and some rocket-shaped exhaust. Done up in a red, white, and blue Eagle paint scheme, it’s about as patriotic as motorcycles come. No surprise then, that Ideal Toys went on to produce a toy of the same name (one that’s proven highly collectible today). Originally sold off for a paltry $500 following completion of shooting, it’s the only film-used, stunt-ridden Evel Knievel motorcycle to ever cross the auction block. You can check it out at the link below, where the bidding will open at $100,000.
