Million-Dollar Vincent coming to Antique M/C Weekend

When it comes to significant machinery from the history of Australian motorcycling, few come close to Jack Ehret’s 1951 Vincent Black Lightning.

Yes, Vincent is British, but the Ehret bike has a long local history. As such, Aussie classic bike fans rightly feel some attachment to it.

Lightning Strike

Built purely for racing and only available from the Vincent factory by special order, the Black Lightning was a stripped-down and spiced-up version of the better-known Black Shadow.

To the Black Shadow’s 998cc v-twin, the Black Lightning kicked power up by 15hp to almost 70hp and was also 30kg lighter.

First offered in 1949, only around 33 Black Lightnings left Vincent’s Stevenage factory before production ended in 1952. Compare that to around 1,700 Black Shadows and it puts the rarity of the Black Lightning into perspective.

Of that handful, it’s believed six were delivered to Australia and one of those six is the bike shown here.

Jack’s Jet

The original owner of this Black Lightning – Chassis #7305 - was Tony McAlpine, who spent some time working at Stevenage and most likely assembled the bike himself.

However, chassis #7305 is much better known for its achievements in the hands of its third owner, Jack Ehret.

A hardcore racer, Ehret campaigned the bike hard and often – across a range of disciplines, too.

After finishing second on debut at the 1952 Australian TT, Ehret made an attempt at the Australian Land Speed Record. On a stretch of public road at Gunnedah, Ehret set a new mark of 141.5mph (227.6km/h) on the Black Lightning; eclipsing the old record by almost 20mph (32.1km/h).

Running the bike in various sprint and circuit races in the years that followed, Ehret also ran chassis #7305 as an outfit in sidecar competition. Jack’s son John inherited the bike and would continue to campaign it into the 1990s.

Aussie Icon

When sold in 1999, the Black Lightning was in much the same spec and condition as when it raced and set records 40 years earlier. In 2014, a French collector purchased chassis #7305 and had it mechanically refurbished, with some new cycle parts fitted, too.

When it was consigned for Bonhams’ Las Vegas auction in January, 2018, the rarity and significance of chassis #7305 led to predictions of a six-figure sum. Starting at US$300,000, bidding escalated rapidly before the hammer fell at US$929,000 (AU$1.1 million).

That total set a new world record for a motorcycle sold at auction, but more importantly, the buyer was an Aussie and the bike is now “back home”, being appreciated by new and old Vincent fans alike.

Lightning at Bulli!

If you haven’t seen the Jack Ehret Vincent Black Lightning yet, you’ll be able to do so at the Bulli Antique Motorcycle Weekend in Bulli, NSW, this coming 24 – 25 August.

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America’s Australia chapter (AMCA) has confirmed the bike will not only be on display at the event, it’ll be fired up, too!

The appearance of the ex-Ehret Vincent Black Lightning will be one of many attractions at this year’s third annual Bulli Antique Motorcycle Weekend.

As well as a big display of classic (35yo and older) motorcycles, the weekend will feature AMCA judged trophies, a swap meet, special guest speakers and tech talks, demonstrations and a prestige motorcycle auction.

For more details on the 2019 Bulli Antique Motorcycle Weekend go to: amcaaustralia.org