- If you like land speed record vehicles, then you’ll love this duo.
- The Turbinator II Streamliner once hit a record 503.332 mph.
- Driving the one-off motorbike are two Kawasaki 1,000 cc engines.
Forget Bugatti Chirons and Kawasaki Ninja H2s. If you want to own a truly fast four-wheel or two-wheeled machine, Mecum’s upcoming Glendale auction might be the place to look. The sale features some serious land speed record machinery, including a car capable of 500 mph (804 km/h) and the first motorcycle to break the 300 mph (483 km/h) barrier.
First up is the 2013 Vesco Racing Turbinator II Streamliner, a machine built for one job and one job only, going absurdly fast in a straight line. It remains the first and only wheel-driven car to break the 500 mph (804 km/h) barrier, recording a staggering 503.332 mph (810 km/h) run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in late 2018.
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Built by the Vesco family, it has a Lycoming aircraft engine and stretches 36 feet in length, helping it to slice through the air at truly frightening speeds. It was featured on the History Channel’s Counting Cars: Bonneville Bound series and wears a custom air-brushed paint scheme. It also includes a custom canvas and a 40-foot trailer.
There is, however, a small catch. The engine was damaged during shutdown after the record-setting run, which means the car is not currently operational. Still, for the sort of collector who already owns the usual supercars and wants something far stranger, a 500 mph record holder has a certain appeal.
Mecum Auctions
Mecum’s auction also features a record-setting motorcycle. Built by the Vesco family as well, it became the first motorcycle to break the 300 mph (489 km/h) barrier back in 1975. The initial 303 mph (488 km/h) run was achieved with a pair of Yamaha TZ750 engines, which were later replaced by two Kawasaki 1,000 cc units that ultimately pushed the bike to 318 mph (512 km/h).
Originally called the Silver Bird before later being renamed the Lightning Bolt, the bike looks nothing like a conventional motorcycle. Its long, fully enclosed aerodynamic body is designed purely for slicing through the air at Bonneville, leaving little resemblance to anything you might ride on a public road.
Don Vesco started racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats at just 16 years old and over the years, set numerous land speed records, including in the Turbinator that’s being sold. Included in the auction is one of the original TZ750 engines used when the bike first exceeded 300 mph, along with a driving suit, boots, helmet, and two jackets worn by Vesco.
So yes, this is the sort of auction where “fast” is a bit of an understatement. Interested? Have a look at the listings for the Turbinator II and the Lightning Bolt over at Mecum, then try convincing yourself you don’t need a 500 mph streamliner in your life.
Mecum Auctions
