Godet-Egli-Vincent Sport GT Sells for £65,550 at Auction

A handbuilt 2016 Egli-Vincent Sport GT sold for £65,550 at a UK auction. The motorcycle came from the workshop of the late Patrick Godet and carries one of the most modern engines ever built under the Vincent name.

• Sale price: £65,550 (approx. €75,400 / $81,400)
• Engine: 1,330cc V-twin producing 99 hp (73 kW) at the rear wheel
• Mileage: just 2,152 miles since it was built

The market for classic and rare motorcycles continues to show how much money collectors are willing to spend on special one-off machines. At the latest motorcycle auction held by Iconic Auctioneers at Kempton Park Racecourse in the English county of Surrey, two Vincent-badged machines changed hands for a combined total of more than £100,000. One was the 2016 Egli-Vincent Sport GT, the other a 1951 Vincent.

Why is the Egli-Vincent Sport GT so rare?

The Egli-Vincent Sport GT is so rare because it was built entirely by hand, with only around 250 examples produced over 25 years. Responsible for the build was Patrick Godet, a specialist in Vincent motorcycles who has since passed away.

Godet was the only person granted permission by Fritz Egli to use the Egli-Vincent name. Fritz Egli is a Swiss frame builder and former racer, born in Zurich in 1937. He founded his workshop in 1965. One of his first projects was a Vincent Black Shadow, which he fitted with his signature frame built around a large central tube. With this setup he won a hillclimb championship in 1968. Egli later became best known for his frame designs for the big Japanese engines of the 1970s, such as the Honda CB750 Four.

The Egli-Vincent Sport GT itself was designed as a cafe racer. Cafe racers are stripped-down motorcycles with a sporty riding position that originated in British motorcycle culture. Godet built every one of these Egli-Vincent machines by hand. How highly his work was regarded is shown by the fact that Fritz Egli himself bought one of these motorcycles.

What technology is inside the Sport GT?

At the heart of the Sport GT is a V-twin engine with 1,330cc of displacement, producing 99 hp (73 kW) at the rear wheel. A V-twin is a two-cylinder engine in which the cylinders are arranged in a V shape.

The frame is made from cold-drawn steel and was welded using the TIG process, a method that produces particularly clean and strong welds. It is paired with forks from the Italian manufacturer Ceriani, a five-speed gearbox, and a front brake styled after the well-known Fontana brakes. According to the sale catalogue, this particular example was the very first to receive the new 1,330cc V-twin. This engine is considered a purpose-built unit that carries the classic Vincent principle into the modern era.

How many miles has the motorcycle covered?

The motorcycle has covered just 2,152 miles, equivalent to around 3,463 kilometres. For a machine built in 2016, that is a very low mileage.

The Sport GT is registered in the UK and, according to the catalogue, runs perfectly. Its MOT, the UK’s roadworthiness test, is valid until May 2027. The motorcycle also comes with a small collection of documents, including various invoices and old test certificates. The machine sold at auction on 18 July for £65,550 (approx. €75,400 / $81,400).

Which second Vincent sold for a high price?

Alongside the Egli-Vincent Sport GT, a 1951 Vincent Series C Black Shadow also changed hands for a large sum. It came from the collection of the late Alan McCoy and sold for £48,300 (approx. €55,500 / $59,900).

The Series C Black Shadow reaches a top speed of 120 mph, or around 193 km/h. In the years immediately after the Second World War, that made it one of the fastest motorcycles in Britain. The machine was originally sold in Manchester by dealer Kings Motors. In 2013, its later owner bought it from Conway Motors. The sale of the Black Shadow also took place as part of this auction.

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