Salt Flat Legend: 1975 Vesco Racing Silver Bird Lightning Bolt Streamliner

There are machines built for transportation, there are machines built for racing, and then there are machines built to assault the laws of physics. The 1975 Vesco Racing Silver Bird Lightning Bolt Streamliner falls squarely into the latter category.

It is a 21-foot-long, ground-hugging missile that didn’t just break records—it obliterated the 300 mph barrier on two wheels, changing the landscape of land speed racing forever. For those of us who grew up reading Hot Rod magazine and dreaming of the Bonneville Salt Flats, this is a chance to own a genuine piece of motorsport history.

Currently up for auction at Mecum’s Glendale 2026 event (March 17-21), this streamliner is being offered at No Reserve, meaning someone is going to take home one of the most significant motorcycles ever built.

The story of this machine is really the story of Don Vesco, a man whose name is whispered with reverence by anyone who knows the smell of race fuel. A flat track racer, road racer, and eventual 1999 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Vesco was obsessed with speed. In 1975, he brought the “Silver Bird” to the salt.

Powered by two Yamaha TZ750 engines—legendary two-stroke powerplants known for their feral power delivery—Vesco piloted this aluminum-bodied needle to a staggering 303 mph. It was the first time a motorcycle had ever cracked the triple-century mark, a feat that cemented Vesco’s legacy instantly.

But speed is an addiction, and 303 mph was just the appetizer. In 1978, Vesco decided the Silver Bird needed an upgrade. He transformed the chassis into the “Lightning Bolt,” swapping out the screaming Yamaha two-strokes for a pair of turbocharged Kawasaki KZ1000 engines.

The result was a terrifying increase in power and speed. Clad in a new paint scheme, the Lightning Bolt tore across the salt to set a new world record of 318 mph—a benchmark that would stand untouched for 12 years. That same year, Vesco won Hot Rod magazine’s trophy for the “Fastest Flying Mile,” beating every single car at Speed Weeks.

The motorcycle crossing the block today wears its history literally on its sleeve. It features a unique dual-sided livery: one side displays the “Silver Bird” graphics, while the other sports the “Lightning Bolt” scheme, honoring both chapters of its record-breaking life. It is a museum piece that looks fast simply standing still.

The aerodynamic shell, with its Navy Blue, Red, Orange, and Yellow hues, encapsulates the rider in a near-horizontal position, a testament to the bravery required to pilot such a contraption at velocities where tire blowouts are catastrophic.

This isn’t just a static display, however. The lot is a comprehensive package for the ultimate collector. It includes the custom 22-foot trailer used to transport the beast, Don Vesco’s original driving suit, boots, and helmet, and even the original 1975 record-setting Yamaha TZ750 engine mounted on a display stand. You are buying the entire legacy.

Whether you are a serious collector of motoring icons or just someone who appreciates the sheer audacity of human engineering, the Silver Bird Lightning Bolt is a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition.

It represents a golden era of amateur ingenuity, where a man with a welder, some engines, and a lot of nerve could go out to the desert and become the fastest man on Earth.

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