Replica Motorcycles – Built To Order
Charismatic actor, movie star, petrol head and dedicated motorcyclist, Steve McQueen was all of those things and more. He was the King of Cool both as an actor on screen, and was the focus of many headlines off it. Known for his love of cars in the movies and that famous jump scene from the Great Escape, it was McQueen’s love of motorcycles that kept the man amused away from the screen.
A dedicated desert racer who regularly entered dirt bikes in extreme races like the grueling 500-mile Mojave races in California, McQueen often entered under the pseudonym Harvey Mushman. McQueen also took part in the 1964 International Six Day Trial (ISDT) in Germany, and famously stopped off in London on his way to the race, buying him and his official American team full Barbour International clothing to use in the race.
A Shared Passion For All Things Triumph
McQueen loved Triumph bikes. Not only was he inextricably linked with them in films, but he also owned dozens, riding them through the dunes around his California home and in some of the most iconic photos of the era. In the Fifties and Sixties the Triumph motorcycle was the ultimate symbol of cool, outshining even Harley-Davidson as the postwar epitome of style, freedom and rebellion.
Ace Classics continues that passion for Classic Triumph motorcycles and it’s our dedication to the marque that has seen us successfully run our parts and sales business since 1991. In the last few years we have also built Steve McQueen replica motorcycles, including iconic machines such as The Great Escape Motorcycle, Desert Sleds and the 1964 ISDT motorcycle that McQueen rode in East Germany for Team USA. We extensively research these motorcycles using film and photographs from that era to ensure we produce a true replica of each bike.
Have Your Replica Motorcycle Built To Your Specifications
Here at Ace Classics we are able to build any of these bikes to our customers specifications. It doesn’t have to be an exact replica if you want something a little different we can do that, all of our motorcycles are hand-built to order. We love the challenge of building these bikes and researching everything to ensure we have it correct. Each of our bikes is built using our very own high quality parts many of which are customised to ensure we get that authentic look – no detail is too small.
In 1964 Hollywood actor Steve McQueen and his friends Bud Ekins, Dave Ekins, Cliff Coleman and John Steen represented the United States at the ISDT held in East Germany. This would be the first United States team ever, McQueen carried the ‘Stars and Stripes’ for the US team at the opening ceremony. The Triumph Trophy TR6 #278 is possibly one of the most iconic bikes McQueen rode and this is certainly the most popular replica we build.
1961 TR6 Desert Sled #955
In March of 1962, McQueen entered a cross-country National Championship motorcycle racing event called the Four Aces Moose Run. He came in in 45th place overall (out of a field of just over 100), and got 3rd place in his Novice division. His good friend Bud Ekins who was also competing came in 2nd place overall. He completed this race on his Triumph TR6 Desert Sled #955.
In the late ’50s and early ’60s, Steve McQueen commissioned several desert sleds to be built for him at his friend Bud Ekins’ shop on Ventura Boulevard for racing and “cow trailing” in the Californian desert. Triumph 500s and 650s during this period were the weapon of choice for many desert riders. McQueen purchased one of the first, top of the range T120C 650 TT Specials, from Johnson Motors in October 1963 and handed it over to Bud for transformation into a desert sled.
1961 The Great Escape Motorcycle
The motorcycles used during chase scene in film The Great Escape were 1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy models disguised as German BMW R75 motorcycles. The star of the movie, Steve McQueen, did much of the riding for the film himself, although Bud Ekins performed the famous jump scene as McQueen’s stunt double. Pin-striper and artist Von Dutch converted the motorcycles for the movie while working at Ekins’ shop.
1963 T120 Desert Sled
Our replica of the Bud Ekins TT Desert Sled from 1963. Ekins built lots of bikes like this and his nick name was THE DESERT FOX – for many years he was King of the Desert. This bike is fitted with high level pipes, a Bates Desert Seat, a 1957 half-width front hub and braced bars to cope with the rough desert terrain.
For More Information On Our Steve McQueen Replica Motorcycles Call Ace Classics On 020 8698 4273.
