VOL. 55 ISSUE 17 MAY 1, 2018 P103
This exact motorcycle is the
most valuable ever sold at auc-
tion. On January 25, 2018, Aus-
tralian collector Peter Bender
paid a staggering $929,000
at the Bonhams Motorcycle
Auction in Las Vegas for this
Vincent Series C Black Light-
ning, piloted by Jack Ehret to
two Australian speed records
and numerous race wins in the
1950s and '60s. Alan Cathcart
takes up the story.
M
ore than six decades
ago, the Vincent Black
Shadow delivered
the most performance from a
street-legal vehicle that money
could buy—on two wheels or
four. Officially timed at 122 mph,
it outpaced the Jaguar XK120
two-seater, then the world's fast-
est production car, making the
Shadow the first true Superbike
of the modern era.
The ultimate Vincent was the
Series C Black Lightning, a pro-
duction version of the bike Rollie
Free rode to break the AMA
land speed record in 1948 on
the Bonneville Salt Flats. Avail-
able only by special order, the
standard Black Lightning was
supplied in racing trim with a ta-
chometer, Elektron magnesium
alloy brake plates, racing tires on
alloy rims, rearset foot controls,
BY ALAN CATHCART
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEL EDGE, JIM SCAYSBROOK ARCHIVES
