You know I have heard the urban legend a few times now and am wondering if anyone has ever had a true encounter? It goes something like this...
So I was at a garage/estate/divorce sale and this big pile of stuff in the corner that looked like a harley stood out at me.. I asked the person at the sale and they said it was a project that the hubby/boyfriend/significant other started and never finished and was taking up valuable space in the garage..
Well what would you want for it if it was for sale.. ohh give me $50/$100/take it away. Sounds like a great deal and turns out to be a complete bike just ready to be put together and enjoyed.
So has anyone ever had this or something similar happen?
There was a cool one going around for a while where this couple bought a farm in France (or somewhere). They noticed a barn that was locked up tightly. Curiosity got the better of them, and they pried the lock off...Inside they found a couple dozen vintage imported sports cars in almost mint condition (just a little dusty).
I know of one individual who pretty much got a complete bike in a few boxes. However he paid 1,300 for it. Put it together. Spent about another grand on missing parts. Rode it about a year and a half and sold it for 4,500.
Found a treasure. Got to build and play. Rode around and sold it for a profit. I have yet to have luck like that.
I know of a guy who helped an old lady out for several years, she gave him her deceased sons shovel in pieces, for a thank you. Needless to say its still in pieces and ive tried to buy it from him for two years now
When I was 17 back in Michigan 1965 a friend at school told me of a woman his parents knew whose young husband age 36 (if I recall correctly) had died unexpectedly of a heart attack and she was selling his "toys" out of his garage. They were an "old Harley", a '56 Corvette, and an almost new Ducati 350 Scrambler. I begged my Dad for five days to take me out there to look. I had $300 saved from my part time after school job at a grocery store. Finally on Saturday he reluctantly took me out there. The 'Vette had been sold for around $1500. The Ducati was still there but I was wanting a Bultaco so I passed on that for $450. Sitting off to the side was a totally complete 1917 Harley with a sidecar. Original paint, kind of olive green with pinstriping. The lady had just sold it 45 minutes before we got there for $120, the price of the three brand new reproduction white rubber tires that had the words "NO SKID" as diagonal tread. The two guys who bought it were going to get a trailer at that moment. She said she thought the bike itself was worth nothing! My Dad said sheepishly, "What would you have done with that anyway?" but he, being an old gearhead himself, knew what had been lost. That experience has been a life long reminder to me to never hesitate to move on something great that is presented to you whatever it is. This applies to all things in life.
We have all heard of people buying cool and rare old bikes for pennies on the doaller. On the other hand I have bought bikes and paid way too much for them. So I do now there is balance in the world.
When I first started getting serious about buying older motorcycles I would often let passion overcome knowledge and buy something I didn't know much about and not recognize all the challanges I had just taken on.
Oh well, you live and learn.
__________________ Buzz Kanter
Editor-in-Chief, American Iron Magazine
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