Ex-Bruce Brown,1970 Husqvarna 250cc Cross

Frame no. MH2595 Engine no. 252511

• Ex Bruce Brown bike
• Bike restored mostly with original parts
• Iconic Husqvarna 'red tank' model
• Sent to Bruce Brown during the production of On Any Sunday


Husqvarna was originally a military arsenal founded in 1689 to produce muskets for the Swedish Army. The company has since grown over nearly 330 years and its production has changed from weapons to sewing machines, kitchen equipment, bicycles, motorcycles, lawn mowers, chainsaws and a whole raft of construction products. That original company has been divided and sub-divided over the years – the motorcycle division, for example, is now owned by Austrian KTM, via Italian Cagiva/MV Agusta then German BMW. In the 1960s, the Husky lightweight, small capacity, 2-stroke, off-road bikes helped make the once dominant British large capacity, 4-stroke motorcycles quickly obsolete. Husqvarna was, during the two decades of the '60s and '70s, the dominant force in the dirt bike world, winning 14 motocross world championships, 24 enduro world championships and 11 Baja 1000 victories across the 125, 250 and 500 classes.
American Edison Dye of San Diego took notice and started importing Husqvarna's line into the Unites States. Shortly after the stateside debut, a Husky 250 was shown carrying a talented young racer by the name of Malcolm Smith across a perfect California beach in the seminal movie On Any Sunday. Then Steve McQueen on the cover of Sports Illustrated, as he charged his Husky, albeit a 400, through the Mojave Desert. And the popular explosion of the sport of dirt bike riding began. It is thus the Swedish Husqvarna, perhaps, that made motocross, desert racing, and then Supercross de rigueur.
This particular 1970 Cross model - an iconic 'red tank' 250cc, 4-speed - was sent to Bruce Brown (Films) of Dana Point, California for 'your use of your filming of your new motorcycle movie' – so states a letter dated April 21, 1970, on file, sent by Edison Dye of Med-International, La Mesa, California, the then exclusive US Husqvarna importer. There is no definitive evidence that this bike was used in the movie, On Any Sunday, but it is the bike that Bruce Brown raced for some years after the movie was first launched a year later in mid-1971.

The bike was retained by Bruce stored alongside his house until a few years ago when it went through a full restoration by the seller who is well-steeped in such work. All its original, 'as found,' parts were retained on the bike with the only non-originals being a seat cover, number plates and tires. And the brand-new OEM tank that came with the bike in a box.
This tough yet sublime dirt bike – one of only 5,076 motorcycles made by Husqvarna in 1970 - not only has that special pedigree but also its unique provenance to make it one of the most desirable Husqvarnas second only, perhaps, to those ridden by Steve McQueen and Malcolm Smith.