Record Breaking Vincent Black Shadow Is Top Seller At Bonhams Auction

A fully restored, ex-works 1952 Vincent Black Shadow was the top selling motorcycle at the Bonhams auction, held at the International Classic Motorcycle Show at the Staffordshire County Showground on Sunday, April 28, selling for £113,500 (US $176,341 after premiums).

This Black Shadow was part of the factory’s bid to set a new 24-hour speed record at Montlhéry in France in May 1952. Mechanical troubles prevented that from happening, but the team still came away with eight records, including six hours at over 100 mph.

Other notable machines sold at the auction include a 1931 Brough Superior SS80 (£57,500, US $89,336 after premiums), a 1914 Indian Model F once owned by Steve McQueen (£32,200, US $50,028 after premiums), and over 30 motorcycles from the collection of the late Clifford Jones, many of which were racing motorcycles, sold for a total of over £175,000 (US $271,000). Elsewhere, two former Barry Sheene helmets sold for over £10,000 (US $15,000).

Ben Walker, Head of the Bonhams Motorcycle Department, said: “Once again our auction at the ‘International’ Classic proved to be exactly that, with interest from bidders from across the globe. “Record-breaking machines like the 1952 Vincent Black Shadow and the movie star charisma of Steve McQueen were among the draws for the crowd, and there was fierce competition for the Ducatis in the collection of the late Clifford Jones.”

To find out more about the auction, including a list of auctioned items and their winning price, visit www.bonhams.com.

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

Photo credit: Double Red

By Troy Siahaan