In just over a week, Bonhams is set to auction a jaw-dropping selection of cars and motorcycles at the Grand Palais in Paris. One of the highlights is this 1968 Egli-Vincent 998cc racing motorcycle, which has an estimate of US$36,000—47,000.
This machine is notable on two counts: the Egli frame is genuine, and the bike is incredibly fast. Shortly after it was built, the English magazine Motor Cycle tested the Vincent, which “in less than half a mile was easily exceeding 120mph. This was the first time an un-streamlined model had notched such figures on test.”
The bike was built by sidecar racer Pete Gerrish, who bought the frame from Fritz Egli himself. Gerrish installed an engine from one of his sidecar racers—described as ‘part Lightning, part Shadow’—and the bike promptly won its first race, at the Cheltenham circuit.
Since then, it looks like it’s been modified for road use. (There’s a 5” Smiths speedometer and a matching rev counter.) If your bid is successful, you’ll also get some very desirable spares—including a Vincent cylinder head and primary drive cover, an original Fritz Egli fuel tank and an original, period fairing.
A piece of history, or a fully-loaded Harley CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide? I know what I’d take.
Via Megadeluxe. More about the auction on the Bonhams website.
from BIKEEXIF
