White Shadow tops Bonhams sale
Set in the salubrious surrounds of Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Bonhams hosted its most successful motorcycle auction to date with sales realising in excess of US $4.8 million. Topping the bill was the one-of-a-kind 1951 Vincent Series C White Shadow, so called because the engine unit is in bare metal rather than black. The unique machine is finished in Chinese red, which was used for a number of US-market Vincents. Spirited bidding came from around the world, including Australia, with the winning bid from Britain to the tune of US $434,000 – a new world record for a Shadow.
The next five positions in the auction also went to Vincent models; a one-owner from new 1955 Series D Black Prince (US $164,500), a 1948 Series B Black Shadow (US $140,000), a 1951 Series C Black Shadow (US $137,000), and a 1954 Series C Black Shadow (US $125,000). Other notable sales were a 1977 MV Agusta 750 S America with just 41 miles on the clock (US $120,500), an SS80 Brough Superior with Matchless engine to SS 100 specification (US $120,500), and a rare US veteran, a 1910 Royal Pioneer (US $115,000).