2026 Mecum Indy Auction Preview: Unusual and Unexpected

[Feed Poster]

2026 Mecum Indy Auction Preview: Unusual and Unexpected

1989 Pulse Autocycle (Lot K46)

The clock is ticking down to Dana Mecum's 39 Annual Spring Classic, known as the Indy auction, which takes place May 8-16 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. As of today (April 21), there are 105 motorcycles listed on the Mecum website that are up for sale at the Indy auction. More are being added each week.

In our previous posts, we highlighted classic Harley-Davidsons, Japanese classics, and British beauties. Today we're taking a closer look at unusual and unexpected motorcycles.

1954 Cushman Eagle

1954 Cushman Eagle (Lot G2)

(Lot G2): Before minibikes were the hot thing in the 1960s and '70s, there were Cushman Eagles. The Cushman scooter company started in 1903 (the same year Harley-Davidson was founded) in Lincoln, Nebraska, by brothers Everett and Clinton Cushman. The company started manufacturing the 4-stroke Husky engine in 1922, and it started making Auto-Glide scooters in 1936. The Cushman Eagle, which resembles a small motorcycle with its exposed engine and top-mounted fuel tank, was made from 1949 to 1965. This example underwent an amateur restoration and was purchased from the Sietsma Collection in 2005.

1961 DKW Hummel 115

1961 DKW Hummel 115 (Lot N16)

(Lot N16): DKW was a German car and motorcycle manufacturer that operated from 1916 until 1966. Known as the Hummel (German for "bumblebee"), this 1961 DKW 115 is a masterpiece of Art Deco design. Powered by an air-cooled 49cc 2-stroke single-cylinder engine with a 3-speed manual transmission, the 115 has swooping, Jetsons-esque body panels that exemplify the futurism of the post-WWII era. Mocked by the European press as the "tin banana," this blue and white example – which is being sold with no reserve – brings a smile to our face.

1965 Harley-Davidson MR50

1965 Harley-Davidson MR50 (Lot G254)

(Lot G254): After the "You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda" campaign during the early 1960s led to soaring sales of the easy-to-ride Super Cub, Harley-Davidson decided to get in on the act. In 1960, Harley bought a 50% stake in Italian manufacturer Aermacchi, which built 49cc scooters that were branded as Harley-Davidsons in 1965 and 1966. This example has 2,496 miles on the odometer. It was purchased from a private collector and then put on display at Rocky's Great Outdoors of Burton, Michigan. It is now being sold as part of the Paul "Rocky" Roll Estate Collection, and it is offered with no reserve.

1965 Ural Model M63

1965 Ural Model M63 (Lot L183)

(Lot L183): Most of us expect to see a Russian-made Ural with a sidecar attached, but this one is the motorcycle only. The M63 was manufactured from 1965-1971. It replaced the M72 model, which was secretly reverse engineered in the 1930s from the BMW R71 to create a motorcycle for the Red Army. The M63 was the first Ural to feature rear swingarm suspension, and most were built to power a utilitarian sidecar. This example underwent a comprehensive restoration with many period-correct details. It has the original engine (an air-cooled 649cc boxer-style Twin), frame, and body components, and it is in running condition. It is part of the Hendricks Collection.

1969 Indian MM5A

1969 Indian MM5A (Lot G12)

(Lot G12): An Indian mini dirtbike? Sure, why not. Introduced in 1968, the MM5A "Mini Bambino" was manufactured in Italy by Italjet. Powered by a 50cc 2-stroke Single made by Morini, the MM5A is the smallest Indian motorcycle ever made. This example underwent an extensive frame-off restoration. It retains the factory engine and frame as well as the original tank and seat. This little Indian is part of the Hendricks Collection.

1973 Harley-Davidson Sportster Custom "Leather Bike"

1973 Harley-Davidson Sportster Custom “Leather Bike” (Lot N265)

(Lot N265): This 1973 Sportster was purchased in 2004 from late artist and sculptor Robert "Leatherman" Katrinic, who was known worldwide for leather art, unique motorcycles, and metal sculptures. This "Leather Bike," which has all of the bodywork and many of the engine and chassis components covered in hand-tooled black leather, is certainly unique. It was on at Rocky's Great Outdoors in Burton, Michigan, and is now being sold with no reserve as part of the Paul "Rocky" Roll Estate Collection.

1979 Yamaha XS650 MotoRod

1979 Yamaha XS650 MotoRod (Lot G250)

(Lot G250): Another motorcycle being sold without reserve from the Paul "Rocky" Roll Estate Collection is this custom-built 1979 Yamaha XS650 known as "MotoRod." Its air-cooled, kickstart-only 650cc Twin was "factory tested" at 53 hp and the bike has a "factory rated" top speed of 105 mph. With its frame, wheels, and minimally muffled exhaust pipes painted in gloss red, the MotoRod has a lot of cool details.

1989 Pulse Autocycle

1989 Pulse Autocycle (Lot K46)

(Lot K46): If you've been waiting for flying cars to arrive since The Jetsons first aired in the early '60s, a Pulse Autocycle will help you fulfill your dream. Sorta. Although it has the shape, cockpit, and wings of a airplane, the Autocycle doesn't actually fly (sigh). This example is No. 331 of about 347 Autocycles produced in the late 1980s by Owosso Motor Car Co. It is powered by a liquid-cooled 1,182cc flat-Four from a 1986 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade. We have no idea what driving this thing would be like, but it will certainly turn heads.

2000 Harley-Davidson Military (MT500)

2000 Harley-Davidson Military MT500 (Lot G204)

(Lot G204): From a distance, the Harley-Davidson MT500 (for Military Transport) looks like an olive drab Kawasaki KLR650. The design was licensed in the late 1980s from British manufacturer Armstrong-CCM, which was a design previously licensed from Italian manufacturer Sironi Vergani Vimercate Milano. The MT500 is powered by an air-cooled 500cc Single made by Rotax. Fewer than 500 units were sold to the U.S. military from 1993-2000, making it one of the rarest production Harleys ever made. This example has just 2 miles on the odometer.

To see all of the motorcycles up for auction in Indianapolis, go to the Mecum website, click on the Buy drop-down menu at the top, select Motorcycles, and click on "View Lots."

A Mecum auction is a must-attend event for any gearhead, but if you can't be there in person, you can bid online or by phone – just fill out the registration form on the Mecum website.
The post 2026 Mecum Indy Auction Preview: Unusual and Unexpected appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: 2026 Mecum Indy Auction Preview: Unusual and Unexpected
Courtesy of Rider Magazine - http://ridermagazine.com