Auction of Unique Speed Machines
Forget the Bugatti Chiron or Kawasaki Ninja H2. If you want to own a true speed machine on four or two wheels, the upcoming Mecum auction in Glendale is the place to be. Serious vehicles built for setting speed records will be up for sale, including a car capable of 500 mph and the world’s first motorcycle to break the 300 mph barrier.
The Record-Holding Turbinator II Streamliner
The first lot is the 2013 Vesco Racing Turbinator II streamliner, a machine built for one single purpose—to achieve incredible speed in a straight line. It remains the first and only wheel-driven car to break the 500 mph barrier, posting a staggering 503.332 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in late 2018.
Built by the Vesco family, it is powered by a Lycoming aircraft engine and is 36 feet long, helping it slice through the air at truly impressive speeds.
It was featured on the History Channel series “Counting Cars: Bonneville Bound” and has custom airbrushing. The lot also includes a custom canopy and a 40-foot trailer.
However, there is a slight issue. The engine was damaged after shutdown following the record run, meaning the car is currently not operational. Yet, for a collector who already owns conventional supercars and wants something far more unusual, owning a 500 mph record-holder has undeniable appeal.
The Legendary Lightning Bolt Motorcycle
The Mecum auction will also feature a record-setting motorcycle. Also built by the Vesco family, it became the first motorcycle to break the 300 mph barrier back in 1975. The initial 303 mph result was achieved using a pair of Yamaha TZ750 engines, later replaced by two 1000cc Kawasaki units that ultimately propelled the bike to 318 mph.
Initially named “Silver Bird” and later renamed “Lightning Bolt,” this motorcycle is unlike any ordinary one. Its long, fully enclosed aerodynamic body is designed solely to cut through the air on the Bonneville Salt Flats and has little in common with something you’d ride on public roads.
Don Vesco began racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats at just 16 years old and over the years set numerous speed records, including behind the wheel of the now-for-sale Turbinator. The motorcycle lot includes one of the original TZ750 engines used when the bike first exceeded 300 mph, as well as the suit, boots, helmet, and two jackets worn by Vesco.
Conclusions and Context
So, this is a case where the word “fast” is a clear understatement. These lots represent not just vehicles, but true engineering artifacts that have entered the history of auto and motorsport. Their value lies not in practicality or daily usability, but in technological achievement and historical significance. The sale of such specimens at a public auction is a rare opportunity for serious collectors to acquire a unique piece of speed trial history. The success of the bidding will show how highly the market values such niche, yet legendary, objects.