FRANCE/FILE: Pope Francis's Harley-Davidson to be auctioned in Paris

Record ID: 659152

  • Title: FRANCE/FILE: Pope Francis's Harley-Davidson to be auctioned in Paris
  • Date: 5th February 2014
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 5, 2014) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) ATTENDEE SYLVAIN DELTEIL SAYING: "Personally, I am not religious but indeed he's still a leading figure, the pope. And above all I find it hard to imagine him on the motorbike, I think he's going to have another outfit when he's on a motorbike, I hope, I hope for him." MERCEDES-BENZ 500 K CABRIOLET FORMERLY O
  • Embargoed: 20th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ETY75FKC23MXC6M0FEIAQXSL
  • Story Text: Signed "Francesco" on its tank, the 1,585 cc Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide to be auctioned for charity in Paris on Thursday (February 6) has an unusual owner -- Pope Francis.
    The pontiff will sell the bike to raise funds for Caritas Roma, a charity working on behalf of the Church. It will be auctioned under the glass ceiling of the French capital's Grand Palais as part of auctioneer Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde sale.
    The motorcycle was presented to the head of the Roman Catholic Church by Harley-Davidson in June 2013, to mark the brand's 110th anniversary.
    While Bonhams' head of motorcycles Ben Walker could not confirm whether the pope actually rode the bike, he nonetheless told Reuters Television the sale was a unique occasion.
    "We sell somewhere in the region of a thousand motorcycles, collectors' motorcycles every year. And in my whole career I've never had more interest in one motorcycle than this one and it's gone viral. I've had inquiries from across the globe in this machine," he said.
    Walker added the modest estimate of 12,000 to 15,000 euros had increased interest, saying collectors could expect to pay more in a Harley-Davidson dealership for one without such a prestigious pedigree.
    "What value from it having previously been the property of the pope? I'm afraid I don't know, we will find out on Thursday," he said.
    The motorcycle was signed on the tank by His Holiness at a special ceremony at the Vatican in November. A Harley-Davidson leather jacket, also signed by the pope, will be sold at the same auction.
    The bike itself formed part of an extensive collection of vintage cars on display ahead of the auction, and visitors expressed disbelief at its unlikely owner.
    Oscar Harding, visiting the exhibition with his father, said the pope would have to lose his usual cassock if he wanted to go motorbike riding.
    "I would like to see him in leathers, the sort of, you know, white leathers or something like that, I'm sure that would be quite a good sight but no I can't imagine the pope doing that and I'm very surprised it's for sale," he said.
    Attendee Sylvain Delteil said he was not religious but still expressed some surprise.
    "I find it hard to imagine him on the motorbike," he said.
    The pope's Harley-Davidson was not the only vehicle previously owned by a well-known figure set to go under the hammer.
    A Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabriolet once owned by French actor Henri Garat was expected to fetch between 2 million and 2.5 million euros.
    Other lots included a Ferrari 275GTB from 1968, estimated at 2.1 million to 2.6 million euros, as well as an Aston Martin DB5 from 1965 in the same silver birch colour as that used in James Bond films.
    The Aston Martin was estimated at 600,000 to 800,000 euros.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register