1972 Husqvarna WR 250

Frame no. MJ 05094 Engine no. 2019 0836

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 beautiful example has been restored by its passionate owner over the past 5 years. The work accomplished is staggering and perfectly documented in files that will be given to the buyer. The quality of the bike speaks for itself and shows that no cost was spared by the owner and that only the best possible parts were installed.