Monterey 2021
1970 Solex 3800
Used on the Set of Le Mans (1)
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$66,000 USD | Sold
| Monterey, California
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- Used on the set of Le Mans
- Documented with a letter permitting its use on the track during filming
- High volume-selling French moped, popular from 1960s to 1980s
Such was the scale of the 1971 film Le Mans featuring Steve McQueen, the movie star made use of an unconventional motorized bicycle to move around the filming set in France. With its standard bicycle frame, the Solex 3800 was equipped with a 49-cubic-centimeter two-stroke motorcycle engine to supplement the rider’s pedal power. It offered a claimed range of up to 60 miles from its 1.25-liter gas tank. Solex would ship seven million mopeds worldwide before ceasing production in 1988.
This example is accompanied by a letter dated March 1970 from the Fédération Française de Motocyclisme that permits the bike’s use on the set of Le Mans, matching the engine and frame numbers.
