Rickenbacker's antique motorcycle collection is going up for auction

The famous San Francisco bar and grill Eddie Rickenbacker's will be clearing out the antique motorcycles used for decoration in the restaurant. They will go up for sale by Bonhams later this summer.

Eddie Rickenbacker's is named after the famous World War flying ace. The restaurant was founded by Norman Hobday, who claimed to be an army veteran, a merchant marine, or an escaped Legionnaire, depending on which story he was telling at the time.

Hobday created the Lemon Drop Martini and the “fern bar” concept. Never a motorcycle fan himself, he stumbled upon an old Indian motorcycle while searching for antiques for his bar. The Indian gained a lot of attention in his establishment, so he started a search for more old riding machines.

Eddie Rickenbacker's soon became more famous for their decoration than for the food and drinks they served. Hobday put together a collection of 30 vintage motorcycles over the years. Motorcycles were displayed in the windows and even hanging from the ceiling of the establishment.

Hobday passed away last year and the vintage machines will now go up for auction this August at the Pebble Beach Automotive Week event. The motorcycles are mostly examples of American iron with Harley Davidson, Cleveland, Excelsior, Reading, and Indian being represented. There are also a few European models as well.

[Rider Magazine]