A 1962 Triumph 649cc TR6SS ridden by Bud Ekins, the American desert and enduro competitor who performed the famous jump as stunt double for Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, was one of the star lots at Bonhams’ Spring Stafford Sale, achieving a world record auction price of £97,750 – over three times its top estimate.
This outstandingly original Trophy model, which was the subject of competitive bidding across two continents and bought by an American bidder, helped Ekins, who was also a friend of Steve McQueen, win a gold medal in the 1962 International Six Days Trial.
Ekins – a Triumph dealer – arranged for the factory to prepare the machine and have it taken to the start of the 1962 ISDT ready for him to ride after his filming duties had been completed.
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The Californian also persuaded move star McQueen to compete in the ISDT two years later.
Read more News and Features in the Summer 2019 issue of CDB –on sale now!
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