When we check out auction sites, a few hidden gems do come up for grabs now and again. Rare sports cars, exotic machines from days gone by. The potential to find a real treasure is endless. However, what you might not expect to find is an original “coffin tank” CZ racer, that is still clad in its original and brand new factory crate. But on Mecum auctions right now is that very thing, a 1973 CZ bike in its original factory crate.
The Mecum Listing States That The CZ Is Basically Brand New
The listing on Mecum states that this bike is effectively brand new. The bike is still wrapped up in its mix of plastic oil and paper and can be assembled by the new owner if they desire, or left in its crate as a time capsule if they so wish as well. The CZ is a Czechoslovakian bike, and the company was the second-largest manufacturer of bikes in Europe following the second world war. CZ machines became motocross legends in the 1960s and were almost unbeatable.
The CZ Bikes Were Much Revered In The Motocross World
So good were their bikes, that America's first World MX Champion Brad Lackey is on record having said that the CZ was the only MX racer you could totally rely on and the only real option for professional racers of the day. These days, finding a CZ bike in great condition is rare in itself, so finding such a machine still wrapped up as it was when it left the factory is almost surely a once-in-a-lifetime find. This is essentially a brand new racing bike.
This Bike Is A Unique Time Capsule
Not only does the bike come in its original packaging materials, but it also comes with the original MSO and the spare parts list as well. The Mecum listing mentions that it was in its original box straight from Strakonice, Czechoslovakia where the company was based, and where it left to come straight to the port of New York. This can’t even be classed as a restoration project, although the bike would surely need some work before it can get out on the roads. Perhaps it could become the racer that it never has been so far.
Source: Mecum Auctions