This American founded the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally — here's his story
The South Dakota event has grown far beyond its original numbers.
Jim Hultman loved classic motorcycles so much, he kept one in the living room.
The dozens of others he owned lived upstairs from his storage garage in Alexandria, Minnesota.
The power company employee passed away earlier this year, leaving behind an amazing collection of bikes and sports cars that are being auctioned under the supervision of his best friend, Bob Thomas.
Thomas told Fox News Digital that the two met about 50 years ago when he moved to the area and became fast friends over their shared love of old motorcycles.
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Jim Hultman kept his motorcycles above a storage garage. (VanDerBrink Auctions)
Thomas was more into American Harleys and Indians, while Hultman preferred British bikes. He said they traveled all over the area buying them, and each had over 100 at one point.
When he was a kid his dad wouldn’t let him have a motorcycle
"When he was a kid his dad wouldn’t let him have a motorcycle," Thomas said. "So when he could buy them for himself, just wow."
Hultman's collection was primarily British, with a few American and Italian bikes mixed in. (VanDerBrink Auctions)
They each started selling them off some years ago, but Hultman still had over 50 at the time of his death.
There are Triumphs, BSAs and Royal Enfields from the 1950s and later, along with a few American and Italian machines.
One was his favorite though, the 1957 Ariel Square Four holding a place of honor parked next to his TV.
Hultman kept a 1957 Ariel Square Four in his living room next to the TV. (VanDerBrink Auctions)
Thomas also has one by his TV, and it has an unusual history. The 1965 Harley-Davidson Panhead was originally a Kansas City police motorcycle that was stolen from the force and recovered. Department policy was to not put any vehicles that were stolen back in service, however, so the police sold it.
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Thomas bought it about 25 years ago from the owner, who he said was told he only had six months to live and was selling all his collectibles to build a nest egg for his family.
Hultman's car collection included this 2001 Porsche Carrera 911 Coupe. (VanDerBrink Auctions)
Along with Hultman’s motorcycles, there are six sports cars on the block. A 1992 Ford Mustang Convertible, 2001 Porsche Carrera 911 Coupe, 1968 Jaguar E-Type Roadster, 1990 Lotus Esprit, 1990 Ferrari 348 and a 2003 Ferrari 575 Maranello.
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Bids are only being accepted online through VanDerBrink Auctions, but there is an open house scheduled for September 4. The hammers come down on the winners September 20.