E. J. Cole is a Texan who bought the only three-story building on Main Street in Sturgis. He installed an elevator, not for the handicapped, but to move his extensive collection of American-manufactured motorcycles to the upper floors. Over the years, he bought as many old American bikes he could. Finally, after over 50 years of collecting, it was time to cash out his collection and Mecum got the deal to auction E. J’s 220-bike collection in a stand-alone, E. J. Cole-only auction at the South Point. Most of the collection was un-restored original.
So I’m back here in Vegas to take a few images of some great antique bikes for you all to enjoy. A very small selection was on display at the local Harley-Davidson shop crammed together so tightly so you couldn’t really see them,
Let’s get on to the auction display at South Point. It was like entering a museum specializing in early motorcycle America. I ain’t ever seen a collection like this. There were more ultra-rare Thor motorcycles for sale here than I’ve ever seen in one place ranging from total basket cases to beautifully restored motorcycles.
I could write volumes upon volumes about the history behind these bikes, but it happens I’m a picture taker and not a research historian, so this is the extent of my words.
If you want to see the auction results, click on https://www.mecum.com/featured-lots.cfm?auctionID=EJ0315.