The iconic Easy Rider custom chopper changed hands once more, and this time it brought more than the price it was expected to sell for. In mid-September we reported the auction house Profiles in History would have the Captain America under the hammer, and the bike was hoped to bring $1-1.2 million (€777,000-932,000).
What was considered already a very expensive deal turned out to be an even more valuable lot, as the Captain America was eventually sold for $1.35 million, which stands for almost €1,060,000 on the other side of the pond.
It is known that four bikes have been commissioned for shooting the Easy Rider. One of them was almost completely wrecked in the final crash scene, and was apparently restored by Dan Haggerty. The other three have been reported stolen at gun point from stunt rider Tex Hall, who also rode the bike in the mentioned crash scene. Those bikes have never been retrieved.
Fact is that there apparently are two bikes claimed to be movie originals. One of them was authenticated by Fonda, who signed its tank, but he allegedly dismissed this and said he only trusted Haggerty for the authenticity of the bike and wished “he'd never lent his credibility to the other motorcycle.”
LA Times ran a more detailed story on the battle of the two Captain America choppers. However, until memorabilia forensics and experts establish the truth about these machines, the fact that matters is that the Captain America chopper, one of the most easily recognized bikes of modern times found another owner and will most likely double its value if proven to be the REAL Easy Rider machine.
The authenticity controversy
This exceptional sale is however, shadowed by some doubts regarding the authenticity of the bike. Profiles in History spokeswoman Sabrina Propper says that the bidding was really fierce and that the bike being sold was actually ridden in the movie. Still, she doesn’t offer solid declarations as to who rode that bike in the movie.It is known that four bikes have been commissioned for shooting the Easy Rider. One of them was almost completely wrecked in the final crash scene, and was apparently restored by Dan Haggerty. The other three have been reported stolen at gun point from stunt rider Tex Hall, who also rode the bike in the mentioned crash scene. Those bikes have never been retrieved.
Fact is that there apparently are two bikes claimed to be movie originals. One of them was authenticated by Fonda, who signed its tank, but he allegedly dismissed this and said he only trusted Haggerty for the authenticity of the bike and wished “he'd never lent his credibility to the other motorcycle.”
LA Times ran a more detailed story on the battle of the two Captain America choppers. However, until memorabilia forensics and experts establish the truth about these machines, the fact that matters is that the Captain America chopper, one of the most easily recognized bikes of modern times found another owner and will most likely double its value if proven to be the REAL Easy Rider machine.
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