Despite being not much more than a collection of parts, a Vincent Black Prince project bike has set a new world record after a bidding war at Bonhams.
 The Vincent Black Prince combined the raw power that the company was known for with enough comfort for the daily commute |
The bike sold as part of the Summer Classic Sale, held on June 7 in Oxford, UK. The 1955 Vincent Black Prince 998C sold for £91,100 ($152,910) - a new auction record for the model.
The auction shows the power of nostalgia in the collecting world. As two collectors competed, one had owned a Black Knight during his youth and had always wanted the more powerful Black Prince, while the winning bidder was born in the same year that the Black Prince was made and had promised himself a birthday present.
 This restored Black Prince shows what the winning bidder will get after months of hard work |
Vincent bikes are some of the most sought after on the market, with Bonhams seeing a further three cross the block this weekend.
A 1951 Black Shadow project sold for £54,050 ($90,722), while a Vincent Rapide from the same year made £28,175 ($47,291), followed by a 1952 Rapide at £23,000 ($38,605).
Yet even more desirable for early motorcycle enthusiasts is the Brough Superior, the king of motor cycling's between-wars golden age.
A pair of the legendary bikes, one owned by the Myerscough family, were offered, with the 1928/31 Brough Superior Overhead 680 selling for £33,350 ($55,977) and a 1935 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50hp making £48,300 ($81,071).
"With many exceptional models for sale - some of which haven't been available for public sale in decades - we had bids coming in from all over the globe," commented Bonhams director for motorcycles, Ben Walker.
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