Marlon Brando drove a 1950 Triumph Thunderbird 650 in the movie ”The Wild One”, the original outlaw biker film. An identical bike - with low milage and sold new in Sweden - is now up for bidding on Bilweb Auctions.
”The Wild One” became a cultural icon in the Western world. In the USA, sales of motorcycles and leather jackets increased significantly after the film premiered in 1953. Surprisingly Brando didn’t drive a Harley Davidson, but a somewhat more modest English bike.
The US importer of Triumphs wasn’t pleased to see their product in a Hollywood film about an outlaw biker gang with a questionable code of conduct, and wrote an angry letter to the producer.
However, the Triumph Thunderbird was a sales success in the USA and also in Sweden the 1950s was a big decade for the British motorcycle brands. Norton, BSA, Velocette and Royal Enfield was common on Swedish roads.
The auction bike was also sold new in Sweden and has been driven very sparingly during the 73 years that has passed: 27 000 kilometers. The paint is original and nothing else seems to have changed since 1950. Therefore it is in a very unusual original condition. The 2-cylinder 650 cc engine produces 34 horse power, a classic power unit that Triumph used into the 1970s
Bilweb Auctions has valued Marlon Brando’s ”Swedish” Thunderbird to between 90 000 and 110 000 SEK.
To the auction
Two other English bikes from the 1950s - from the same collection - is in the auction:
- 1952 Velocette Mac 350 cc.A very beautiful and well kept single in black and gold from ancient Velocette. A contemporary ”Fishtail” silencer gives it a very characteristic look. It is valued att 45 000 to 55 000 SEK.
To the auction
- 1954 BSA B33 500 cc. A reliable everyday bike from Birmingham that also was exported to the Swedish army. The bike in the auction is very well presented after a thorough restoration a few decades ago. Valued at 60 000 to 80 000 SEK.
To the auction
All auctions are closed 31 August. Welcome!
