US Title To be cleared for customs

Frame n° 1HD1BJL13LY010678

-  Previously owned by Johnny Hallyday

-  Custom-made for the star with his initials on the tank

-  Brought to Las Vegas for his concert at the Alladin Theater in November 1996

- No reserve

 

The story of this Harley-Davidson is unique! This 1990 Softail was bought by Johnny Hallyday in 1996 and customised by Vortex Design Conception in Cannes. The company also manufactured the “Laura Eyes” on which Johnny sang his song Gabrielle at the Stade de France in 1998, and which went for €470,000 under our hammer in 2022.

“Blue Steel” has a customized fork, a triple-disc braking system and a six-piston calliper manufactured by Performance Machine (originally a Beringer front braking system). It has a hand-crafted front wheel and drag-style handlebars with polished billet controls, a custom oil cooler and bracket, and a custom shifter and rear brake assembly. The engine is a polished S&S 96 CI Arlen Ness with custom heads and accessories and a S&S Shorty 42G carburettor. The engine develops around 110 hp and is equipped with a custom made five-speed transmission. The rear wheel cover is made of Kevlar. For added comfort, the bike has been lengthened to fit the rockstar's height. It features a hand-made fuel tank, mudguards and saddle. The tank bears the singer's initials JH. The bike was registered in his name on 11th July 1996, and shipped to Las Vegas on 24th November 1996 for use at his concert at the Alladin Theatre. It remained there on after the concert, and the bike was sold in 1999 to Lewis Jeffrey through the intermediary of Norbert Aleman, a famous Las Vegas producer. In 2015, it was sold to its current owner, who had it completely serviced and brought up to date with new electronic components and new wear parts.

This unique motorcycle will come with a copy of its various registration documents, including a copy of the vehicle registration document in the name of Jean-Philippe Smet, aka Johnny Hallyday, at the address of his villa in La Lorada, in the Saint Tropez region, where he used it in the summer of 1996.

This is a real collector's item, having belonged to the greatest French singer who brought rock'n'roll to France in the late 1950s.

Lot from outside the EU:

Classic cars:

The hammer price will be VAT excluded to which should be added 5.5% VAT. Upon request, this VAT will be refunded to the purchaser on presentation of written proof of exportation outside the EU or to the EU purchaser who will submit his intracommunity VAT number and a proof of shipment of his purchase to his EU country home address.