Auction record In February 2018, during an auction held by Bonhams at Las Vegas, a Black Lightning, stated to be one of only 19 surviving, set an absolute world record for the highest-price paid at auction for a motorcycle of $US929,000 ($1.16 million Australian). The machine was used to set a national speed record in Australia during 1953, and was purchased by an undisclosed Australian. Richard Thompson song Richard Thompson wrote the song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" and recorded it for his 1991 album Rumor and Sigh. Thompson later said, "When I was a kid, that was always the exotic bike ... the one that made you go 'ooh, wow'". The song's outlaw hero James, who has "robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine," comments on the bike's mystique in his dying speech: Says James: "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world, beats a '52 Vincent, and a red-headed girl. Now Nortons, and Indians, and Greeveses won't do; they don't have a soul like a Vincent '52." See also Vincent Black Shadow Vincent Rapide List of motorcycles of the 1940s List of motorcycles of the 1950s Notes Black Lightning Land speed record motorcycles Motorcycles introduced in 1948