1927 Harley-Davidson 8-Valve Racer Sold $600,000 At Auction

1hd2hd3hdThis 1927 Harley-Davidson is believed to be one of less than 50 FHA 8-Valve racers built from 1916 to 1928 It sold last Monday for $600,000 to an Australian bidder after a fiercely competitive bidding war at the Shannon’s Melbourne Spring Auction. Initially it was expected to sell for around $100,000. This 1927 Harley was the fastest produced during the time period and was never made available for public sale but only offered to up-and-coming racers. The sidecar was added to the bike after it was purchased and can be angled to adapt to the track the bike was running on. The last time it was raced was in 1940, then kept in stoorage. This 1927 Harley has never been restored and the new owner declared that he will leave it is in its original condition.

17 Responses to “1927 Harley-Davidson 8-Valve Racer Sold $600,000 At Auction”


  1. 1 Mark Russell Sep 23rd, 2015 at 8:44 am

    This type of buyers don’t necessarily love motorcycles. Just the idea of a big capital gain down the road.

  2. 2 Drake Sep 23rd, 2015 at 8:50 am

    Value is in the engine.

  3. 3 Chuck C. Sep 23rd, 2015 at 10:47 am

    a fool and his money!!!

  4. 4 Highrider Sep 23rd, 2015 at 6:31 pm

    Well the price on my 1973 Sportster just went up !!!!

  5. 5 nicker Sep 23rd, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    Its “worth” whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
    But only at any given time.
    So, finding someone else to by it at that price (or more) isn’t a given proposition.

    -nicker-

  6. 6 Septic the Sceptic Sep 23rd, 2015 at 7:54 pm

    That 6 hundy Australian, so take 25% for Yank dollars.
    Personally I don’t believe the price. I thinks it’s a publicity stunt designed to flush more bikes out into the open.

  7. 7 djones Sep 24th, 2015 at 6:14 am

    Maybe it is just the color and side hack although on opposite sides, but it reminds me of the Jack Pine racer that I saw at Wheels Through Time. Took a hard core manly man to to race either for sure.

  8. 8 Blackmax Sep 24th, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    Beautiful old classic iron
    I hope & pray that he puts it on display
    somewhere that it can be appreciated
    & not just under glass in his garage

  9. 9 Dave Blevins Sep 24th, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    I don’t know why some people complain when wealthy folks pay crazy prices for cool old stuff, I think it’s cool as hell and it doesn’t cost me a penny! Big prices for old iron can only do good things toward the preservation of antiquity, & some poor soul might even get a few extra dollars for an old machine they have on hand as a result in popularity of wealthy collectors now hunting up the “next old machine hiding in the cob webs”.

  10. 10 Septic the Sceptic Sep 24th, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    The buyer has a bit of cash, but he is deeply committed to the HD brand and history.

  11. 11 Woody's Sep 24th, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    @ Dave-Jealousy, some folks get bitter just because somebody else got a bigger ice cream cone. Was that a crazy price for that rig? Of course, but the buyer didn’t steal part of my paycheck to purchase it so I sure don’t care how much he paid. Seriously, how many folks here would have actually wanted to buy it anyway?

  12. 12 nicker Sep 24th, 2015 at 10:17 pm

    RE:

    “…wealthy folks pay crazy prices for cool old stuff, I think it’s cool as hell and it doesn’t cost me a penny..”
    “… the buyer didn’t steal part of my paycheck to purchase it so I sure don’t care how much he paid…”

    Well, another perspective is that the notoriety can be a problem.
    For example:
    In order to get a 42 FL insured the insurance underwriter insisted on a professional appraisal.
    The official appraisal cam back at $26K. When asked for a rationalization, the appraiser said most WWII era overhead HDs were 61ci knuckle, but this one was a very rear 74ci Police bike, hence the “optimistic” appraisal.

    So What…???
    Well, instead of having a nice old bike to ride around and enjoy, now i have to guard it so it doesn’t end up in a transportation headed overseas. All because a bunch of “..wealthy folks pay crazy prices for cool old stuff…” i’m having trouble enjoying my cool old stuff……

    -nicker-

  13. 13 Dave Blevins Sep 25th, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    Nicker,
    You’re just gonna have to move to Kentucky, dude. We just don’t really have those kinds of problems out here in the boonies.
    Seriously, sorry you got boned on the insurance cost. Enjoy that ’42 man!

  14. 14 RUB Sep 28th, 2015 at 10:05 am

    would love to see someone build a clone of this masterpiece . Those men riding these machines were the pioneers of speed .

  15. 15 Capt. Al Sep 28th, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    This time the Mooch didn’t get away! I would love to see what this Bike would sell for in a couple years when the Owner HAS to sell?

  16. 16 Woody's Sep 28th, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    @ nicker – I hear you, and usually love your comments, but I think you’re being overly sensitive on this. A few huge price bikes like this aren’t much more than a spike in the general market and certainly aren’t moving the everyday prices into the stratosphere. If you don’t feel your bike is worth anywhere’s near $26K why not insure it for less? Personally, I’d consider it a compliment that the world seems to appreciate your good taste in rides.

  17. 17 nicker Oct 3rd, 2015 at 12:25 am

    Woody,

    I used to love to ride my stuff…. but at the rate the prices are escalating ya just cant ride one to an event and leave it unattended anymore……

    Hell, even my Triumphs are are past my ability to buy replacements.

    And with the global market for this stuff now days, recovery is almost impossible…… 🙁

    Hell, even my Triumphs are past my ability to buy replacements.

    -nicker-

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Cyril Huze