During the January 7 Bonhams’ Las Vegas auction, 5 Vincent motorcycles were sold for very high prices. Top price of $434,000 was offered for a very rare 1951 Vincent Series C ‘Red’ White Shadow. The second highest bid was for a 1955 Vincent Series D Black Prince, boasting only one owner which sold for $164,500. It was one of the last motorcycles to roll off the Stevenage assembly line before the factory was closed for good that same year.
The iconic 1948 998cc Series B Black Shadow model on which Roland “Rollie” Free broke the American motorcycle land speed record in Utah in an aerodynamic position, and wearing only swim trunks got a final winning bid at $153,500. Then a 1953 Vincent 998cc Series C Black Shadow, which fetched $140,000 and a 1951 Vincent 998cc Series C “Big Sid” Black Shadow auctioned at $137,000. Another 1954 Vincent 998cc Series C Black Shadow sold for $126,000.
A 1938 Brough Superior 998CC SS80, with an SS100 engine of superior V-twin power, sold for $120,500. A 1977 MV Agusta 750S America, which has logged only 41 miles from new, also brought $120,500. Pre-war stunners also included a 1910 Royal Pioneer 30.50ci Single that sold for $115,000. And a machine with connections to the king of cool, Steve McQueen, a 1963 Triumph Bonneville Desert Sled, sold for $103,500.
Well, Vincents have obviously moved into the 1%’er/gearhead/art category…hope us minions can still get a look at one occasionally…
Around 1978 Arlen Ness beat me out of a Rapid at an San Francisco estate sale for $900.
Some years later i turned Mike McQueen down when he offered to sell me his Rapid for $5k.
Hell, at today’s prices i’d expect to see reproductions popping up all over the place…. 🙂
-nicker-
The Rollie Free bike should be in a Museum for all to see.
An amazing feat by an incredible guy on a mind blowing MotorCycle