Vincent White Shadow & Touring Rapide Set Auction Sales Records
During the fifth-annual Bonhams Motorcycle Sale at Bally’s Hotel & Casino on The Strip last week, British marques pulled in the top money.
Most notable on the sales list were a few Vincent machines. Two – a 1950 Vincent Series C “White” Shadow and a 1949 Vincent Touring Rapide with Blacknell Bullet Sidecar – each achieved sales records for motorcycles at auction. The Vincent White Shadow, one of 15 produced, sold for $224,250, and the Rapide for $126,500.
Another notable British motorcycles that broke a new sales record was a restored 1936 Brough Superior SS80 with a Watsonian Sport Sidecar. This bike achieved a world auction record for a Matchless-engined SS80 when it was sold to a private collector for $115,000. The 1962 Matchless G50 that helped carry legendary American racer Dick Mann to his championship also sold for $115,000, allowing British motorcycles to garner to most dollars at Las Vegas Bonhams 2015.
Other British motorcycles that impressed were a 1938 Brough Superior SS100 at $280,000, an ex-Sid Biberman 1950 Vincent Series C Black Shadow at $112,700, a 1950 Vincent Series C Black Shadow barn find at $103,500, a 1955 Vincent Black Prince at $79,350, the ex-Jimmy Guthrie 1961 Francis Beart Norton Manx at $75,900, and a 1956 Ariel Square Four MkII with Watsonian Sidecar at $50,600.
Steve McQueen’s fame brought some high sales for one American motorcycle – a 1912 Harley-Davidson X8E Big Twin once owned by McQueen sold for $117,300.
From Italy, the “jewel-like” 1959 Ducati 175 F3 Production Racer was sold for $89,700. While from Japan, a nearly new 1990 Honda RC30 created quite a stir when it was the subject of a bidding war between collectors in the UK and Australia and sold to the former for $52,900, creating a world auction record for the model, Bonhams reports.
“Bonhams continues to show year-on-year growth in the market of collectors’ motorcycles here in the US,” said Malcolm Barber, auctioneer and Bonhams Co-Chairman. “As market leaders in this unique segment, we’re delighted with our results.” Ben Walker, Bonhams International Head of Motorcycles, added that “consistently achieving the highest average price per motorcycle makes our annual Las Vegas sale the best in the world.”
To view complete auction results, please visit Bonhams.com/Vegas.
