1968 BULTACO PURSANG 250 MKII
Think of Peter Fonda and you’ll probably have a mental picture of him riding his ‘Captain America’ chopper in the cult classic Easy Rider. But Fonda, a genuine motorcycle fan, actually rode this Bultaco in the first scene of the film, turning up with Cz-mounted Dennis Hopper to do some murky business at seedy bar La Contenta. It was one of two Bultacos supplied to Fonda’s Pando company for use in the film, and the original invoice will be included in the sale.
The film was a huge success – despite the fact that licencing the music for the soundtrack cost almost three times as much as the budget for actually shooting the movie. But, with tracks from The Band, The Jimmy Hendrix Experience, The Byrds, Steppenwolf and Bob Dylan, that’s perhaps no surprise. In any event, the film grossed $60 million and became the third-highest grossing film of 1969, so as it turned out Fonda and Hopper could probably afford it.
Lightly restored and repainted, the
Bultaco is in much the same condition now as when the iconic film was shot back in 1968 (it was released in 1969).
Bultaco’s MKII Pursang was the hot ticket in 250class motocross back in 1968, pumping out a claimed 34bhp, and any example in this condition would be desirable enough, but the connection to Fonda and Easy Rider make this one considerably more so.