Description
The Vincent Black Lightning is a highly exclusive motorcycle, with only about 31 to 33 units (depending on sources) produced at the Stevenage factory between 1948 and 1952.
Only 19 are believed to remain in the world with “Matching Numbers”.
First unveiled at the Earl Court Show in London in 1948, the Vincent Black Lightning caused a sensation both for its performance and for its price of £400, plus a hefty tax of £108.
The year 1952 would mark the end of production of this British superbike.
The “base version”, the Vincent Black Shadow, released in 1948, was the pride of a people of mechanics scholars. Indeed, it was no more and no less than the fastest road vehicle of its time, with a top speed of 196 km/ h, and it even had the audacity to outpace the Jaguar XK 120!
The Vincent Black Lightning is directly derived from the bike on which Rollie Free set the world speed record on 13 September 1948 at the Bonneville Salt Flats at 241. 9 km/ h.
It is a racing version of the Vincent Black Shadow. This motorcycle, available by order only, is equipped with certain pieces specific to it compared with the Vincent Black Shadow: magnesium brakes, alloy wheel hubs, aluminium rims, aluminium mudguards and a tachometer.
This stringent configuration means a Vincent Black Lightning weighs only 172 kg compared with 207. 7 kg for the Black Shadow. The latter omits equipment required for road use such as a horn, a more comfortable seat and headlights.
Our Black Lightning is a recreation based on the Black Shadow. It is registered in France, with a “collection” registration and is supplied with all its street-legal fittings.
