Big spenders are being teased to visit ‘Sin City’, Las Vegas, in January for two major motorcycle auctions. The world’s gambling capital is to offer the Excelsior-Henderson brand name and a stack of high-value motorcycles.
Mecum Auctions brings Excelsior-Henderson and intellectual rights to the block on 27 January. Speculation includes Polaris and Chinese companies as potential buyers.
Excelsior of Chicago, USA, made motorcycles from 1908 to 1931. In 1919 the range added the Bill Henderson designed four-cylinder model. The brand was resurrected in 1999 making 1952 cruiser V-twins over two years.
On 25 January Bonhams at the Rio Hotel and Casino rolls the dice with a blue chip Vincent V-twin that held the Australian speed record. The 1951 Black Lightning, ridden by Jack Ehret, hit a 141.5mph average in 1953.
Bonhams say the machine is original and unrestored and the second most important Vincent in the history of the great British marque that made motorcycles from 1928 to 1955.