Evel Knievel’s Harley Davidson XL1000 used in the film ‘Viva Knievel!” is to be auctioned at the Bonhams Las Vegas motorcycle sale on January 7 with a guide price of £54,000 to £67,000.
George Hamilton played Knievel in the film but arguably the real star was this bike, built by Bud Ekins to look like one of Evel Knievel’s Harley XR-750 jump bikes. At the end of filming, the bike went to a museum in California, where it’s remained since. It’s recently been cosmetically restored by the same guy who painted Knievel’s bikes in the 1970s.
Robert Craig Knievel, better known as ‘Evel Knievel’ is regarded as one of the most famous stunt riders of all time.
Evel Knievel’s success even saw him land in a Hollywood role with the film ‘Viva Knievel!’, in which he played himself alongside such stars as Gene Kelly, Lauren Hutton and Leslie Nielsen.
