The Von Dutch motorcycle from American Pickers was the one-off XAVW, and the latest public update says Mike Wolfe sold it in a private sale. Antique Archaeology reportedly confirmed the sale several years before November 3, 2024, but the buyer and current location were not disclosed, leaving the motorcycle’s whereabouts publicly unknown.
The XAVW became famous because it combined an unusual Harley-Davidson-and-Volkswagen mechanical setup with Von Dutch’s custom artwork and a documented connection to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Wolfe found it in a Tennessee barn, acquired it in 2012, and preserved it rather than treating it as an ordinary restoration project.
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Key takeaways
- The motorcycle was the one-off Von Dutch XAVW, a custom machine combining Harley-Davidson XA-related hardware, a Volkswagen engine, and Von Dutch pinstriping.
- Mike Wolfe found and acquired the XAVW in Tennessee in 2012 after the motorcycle had spent roughly 30 years in a barn.
- Wolfe preserved the motorcycle in its unusual historical condition instead of converting it into a conventional modern restoration.
- The XAVW was displayed at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, but that museum closed in 2023.
- Antique Archaeology later confirmed, in reporting published November 3, 2024, that Wolfe sold the motorcycle in a private sale.
- The buyer and the XAVW’s current location have not been publicly identified.
What happened to the Von Dutch motorcycle from American Pickers?
The Von Dutch motorcycle from American Pickers was the unique XAVW, and the latest public ownership update says Mike Wolfe no longer owns it. Antique Archaeology reportedly confirmed that Wolfe sold the motorcycle in a private sale several years before November 3, 2024; the buyer and present location were not disclosed, so the XAVW’s whereabouts are publicly unknown.
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The strongest current answer is therefore not that the motorcycle is still at Antique Archaeology, in Nashville, or at the National Motorcycle Museum. Those are historical associations. The available evidence supports a past acquisition and museum display followed by a private sale whose details remain confidential. SlashGear’s November 3, 2024 report attributes the sale confirmation to Antique Archaeology.
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What kind of motorcycle was the Von Dutch XAVW?
The XAVW was not a standard production Harley-Davidson or a normal vintage Volkswagen motorcycle. It was a one-off custom machine associated with Harley-Davidson XA-related components, a Volkswagen engine, and artwork by Kenny Howard, better known as Von Dutch.
The motorcycle matters because several strands of custom-motorcycle history meet in one object: unusual engineering, surviving Von Dutch pinstriping, and a documented connection to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. The XAVW is best understood as a historical Kustom Kulture artifact rather than as a regular model with a published production run. No reliable source in the research establishes that more than one XAVW was built, and no verified surviving-unit count or auction value has been published.
The National Motorcycle Museum’s 2012 announcement described the machine as a Von Dutch-built motorcycle and noted paperwork connecting it to Roth. Antique Archaeology’s account of the XAVW supplies additional history about its assembly, discovery, and previous ownership.
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Who built the XAVW, and how did Ed Roth fit into its history?
Kenny Howard—Von Dutch—built and pinstriped the custom motorcycle around 1966, according to the historical accounts cited by Antique Archaeology and the National Motorcycle Museum. The bike was later obtained from Ed Roth and reassembled by Randy Smith in 1969.
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That provenance does not mean every component was necessarily fabricated by Von Dutch from raw materials. The important distinction is that the machine is associated with Von Dutch’s custom work while incorporating unusual Harley-Davidson and Volkswagen parts. Its paperwork and ownership trail are part of the motorcycle’s value as an artifact, alongside its physical construction and paintwork.
How did Mike Wolfe find and buy the motorcycle?
Mike Wolfe found the XAVW through a contact whose property he had previously picked. Wolfe was told that a woman had a Volkswagen-powered motorcycle built by Von Dutch sitting in a Tennessee barn. Because that description sounded improbable, Wolfe researched the claim, traveled to Tennessee, and found a complete motorcycle matching the lead.
The motorcycle had reportedly spent roughly 30 years in the barn after its owners moved to Tennessee. Wolfe’s acquisition was documented in 2012, and the paperwork connecting the bike to Ed Roth helped support its provenance. The discovery story is also preserved in a 2014 American Rider profile of Mike Wolfe and Antique Archaeology’s historical account.
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Did Mike Wolfe restore the Von Dutch motorcycle?
Mike Wolfe’s approach was preservation rather than a conventional restoration. The goal was to retain the XAVW’s unusual character, original evidence, and historical associations instead of modernizing the machine into a polished custom build.
That distinction matters with a one-off artifact. Replacing components, repainting Von Dutch’s work, or correcting every sign of age could make the motorcycle more functional while reducing the evidence that makes the original object historically important. Public accounts associate Wolfe with preserving and exhibiting the XAVW, not with turning it into a replica or a fully modernized rider.
Where was the XAVW displayed?
The XAVW was publicly displayed at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, after Wolfe acquired it in 2012. The museum announced the motorcycle’s arrival on October 12, 2012, and displayed it with other Von Dutch work and related artifacts.
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The National Motorcycle Museum later closed in 2023. As a result, older articles that tell readers to visit the Anamosa museum to see the XAVW describe a past exhibition, not a current viewing opportunity. The museum announcement remains useful for documenting the display history, but it cannot establish where the motorcycle is today.
Where is Mike Wolfe’s Von Dutch XAVW now?
The XAVW’s current physical location is not publicly known. Antique Archaeology reportedly confirmed that Wolfe sold the motorcycle privately several years before the November 3, 2024 report, but neither the buyer’s identity nor the location of the motorcycle was released.
That means several commonly repeated destinations should not be presented as current facts:
| Claim | What the evidence actually supports | Current-status verdict |
|---|---|---|
| The XAVW is still owned by Mike Wolfe | Wolfe acquired it in 2012, but later sold it privately. | Outdated |
| The XAVW is at Antique Archaeology | Antique Archaeology documented its discovery and later reportedly confirmed the sale. | Not publicly confirmed |
| The XAVW is at the National Motorcycle Museum | The motorcycle was displayed there in 2012; the museum closed in 2023. | Historical display location only |
| The XAVW is in Nashville | No researched source identifies Nashville as its current location. | Unsupported |
| The XAVW was privately sold | Antique Archaeology reportedly confirmed a private sale involving Wolfe. | Latest supported update |
Unless a newer statement comes from Antique Archaeology, Mike Wolfe, the buyer, or a specialist museum, the responsible wording is that the motorcycle was privately sold and its current owner and whereabouts remain undisclosed.
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| Period | Event | What is documented |
|---|---|---|
| Around 1966 | Construction | The Von Dutch XAVW was built as a custom motorcycle using unusual Harley-Davidson and Volkswagen components. |
| 1969 | Reassembly | Randy Smith reportedly reassembled the motorcycle after obtaining it from Ed Roth. |
| Approximately 30 years before 2012 | Barn storage | The motorcycle remained in a Tennessee barn after its owners moved there. |
| 2012 | Wolfe’s acquisition and public display | Mike Wolfe located and acquired the motorcycle; the National Motorcycle Museum documented its arrival later that year. |
| 2023 | Museum closure | The National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa closed. |
| Several years before November 3, 2024 | Private sale | Antique Archaeology reportedly confirmed that Wolfe sold the XAVW privately. |
| Latest located report | Current status | The buyer and physical location remain undisclosed in the public sources reviewed. |
How can you tell the original XAVW from a replica?
The original XAVW should be evaluated through provenance, originality, condition, public history, and authentication—not simply through a Von Dutch-style paint scheme. A motorcycle with similar colors or a Volkswagen engine is not automatically the American Pickers motorcycle.
| Evaluation point | Evidence that supports the original | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Provenance | Ownership records, titles, photographs, paperwork, or period correspondence linking the machine to Von Dutch and Ed Roth. | A seller’s story without documents or a traceable ownership chain. |
| Originality | Surviving Von Dutch-built or Von Dutch-striped components and period-correct mechanical evidence. | Later tribute parts or newly applied “Von Dutch-style” artwork presented as original. |
| Condition | Preserved or as-found evidence consistent with the documented motorcycle. | A modern restoration with no explanation of which components were replaced. |
| Public history | Documented museum exhibitions, period shows, or published photographs. | Unverifiable claims that the motorcycle appeared in a show or collection. |
| Authentication | Independent review by qualified motorcycle historians, museums, or specialists. | Reliance on branding, appearance, or an unsupported online listing alone. |
What can fans read or watch about the story?
Readers interested in Mike Wolfe’s collecting method may want to look for American Pickers Guide to Picking, a Mike Wolfe book relevant to the show and the process behind his finds. The book is background reading about picking, not a book specifically about the Von Dutch XAVW; publisher information about Wolfe is available through Hachette Book Group’s Mike Wolfe author page and Macmillan’s Mike Wolfe author page.
Digital listings for American Pickers have also appeared through Amazon Prime Video, although episode, season, purchase, and streaming availability can vary by country and by date. A catalog listing can provide viewing context, but it does not establish the motorcycle’s present ownership or location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Mike Wolfe sell the Von Dutch motorcycle?
The latest located report says Mike Wolfe sold the XAVW in a private sale, with Antique Archaeology confirming the sale. The buyer’s identity and the motorcycle’s current location were not disclosed.
Where can I see the Von Dutch XAVW now?
The Von Dutch XAVW was displayed at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, in 2012. The museum closed in 2023, and no current public display location has been confirmed.
What kind of motorcycle is the Von Dutch XAVW?
The XAVW was a one-off custom motorcycle associated with Harley-Davidson XA-related hardware, a Volkswagen engine, and Von Dutch pinstriping. It was not a standard production motorcycle.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Mike Wolfe found and preserved the one-off Von Dutch XAVW after acquiring it in 2012, and the motorcycle was later displayed at the National Motorcycle Museum. Antique Archaeology subsequently confirmed that Wolfe sold it in a private sale. The buyer and the XAVW’s current location have not been made public.
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