Matchless G80S Formerly Owned by The Great Escape Star Heads to Auction
The bike used to belong to Bud Ekins, famous for performing ‘that jump’ in the Steve McQueen blockbuster The Great Escape.
Fancy owning a genuine slice of Hollywood motorcycling history? Well, now’s your chance as a Matchless G80S, with some serious A-list credentials, has surfaced and is heading to auction.
This isn’t just any old Matchless G80S. This particular machine, still presented in its gloriously original and unrestored state, was once the property of none other than Bud Ekins. Ekins, who passed away in 2007, was the legendary stuntman, off-road racing ace, and close friend of Steve McQueen. He’s also the rider who actually performed the iconic fence-jumping stunt in The Great Escape, while McQueen took all the screen time and the glory.
Built by AMC (Associated Motorcycles) between 1946 and 1966, the G80S was a 500cc single that didn't exactly change the game, but also didn’t need to. Solid, dependable, and with just enough grunt to get muddy when the terrain required it. The G80 soldiered on through two decades with minimal faff. This particular example is thought to date from the early 1950s and comes with matching frame and engine numbers.
The backstory is almost as impressive as the bike itself. Ekins, aside from being Hollywood’s go-to throttle-twister, ran a major motorcycle dealership in California and was a force to be reckoned with in off-road competition. He exported this G80S to the UK in the 1980s, using it for visits to friends and events across the pond. Once here, it was cared for by his UK mate Jim Godfrey and has remained in the same family ever since Jim’s passing.
Now UK-registered with a current V5C, it’s not only in running order but also comes with a stack of provenance, including event paperwork showing Ekins listed as the rider. You’ll even get a box of spares to sweeten the deal.
So, if you've ever wanted a bike that ticks all the boxes and has a link to one of the coolest men to ever throw a leg over a motorcycle, this Matchless G80S might just be your ticket to freedom. Fence-jumping optional.
The bike is listed on the Iconic Auctioneers website and will go under the hammer on Sunday, July 20 and has an estimate of between £4,000 and £6,000.
More information can be found on the official website.
Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
