3rd Jul, 2024 12:00
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
www.handh.co.u...
A hugely exciting ‘barn find’ that has been off the road for most of its life
Dry stored even prior to entering the current ownership in 1988
All factory correct numbers
Engine turns over
Vincent Motorcycles, "the makers of the world's fastest motorcycles", was established in 1928 when the wealthy Anglo-Argentinian Phil Vincent bought the rights to HRD Motors Ltd after it had gone into voluntary liquidation. With the financial backing of his family, Vincent acquired the trademark, goodwill and remaining components for £450, renaming the new company Vincent HRD. Initially, motorcycles were sold under the HRD brand name, using their own chassis with propiatory engines but in 1934 two new engines were developed, a 500cc single and a 1,000cc V-twin. Always the innovator, Vincent now had full control over his products and began introducing many design features that proved to be way ahead of their time such as cantilever rear suspension. In 1949, in order to stop any confusion with Harley Davidson (HD) in the USA, they began to use simply the 'Vincent' name on their products. The 1000cc V-twin was the fastest motorcycle in the world at the time and with some astute marketing become the bike everyone aspired to own, the Rapides and the Black Shadows have become some of the most desirable and iconic bikes of the era.
This exceptionally exciting Black Shadow has been off the road since at least the late 1970s, when the DVLA computerised their records and, indeed, is thought to have last seen regular usage the previous decade. Barn stored for the majority of its life, the Vincent had already been mothballed for years by the time it entered the current family ownership in 1988. The vendor spent five years persuading his predecessor to relinquish the Black Shadow and had every intention of being the one to ride it again. However, life and work commitments meant that the bike has spent the last thirty-six years becoming more and more entombed. It took our Head of Motorcycles, Mike Davis, over two and half hours of furniture moving before the Black Shadow even became visible. Inspired by Mike’s efforts, the seller continued the excavation the day after and found its petrol tank (sadly, after the catalogue photos had been taken). Pleasingly, the Vincent Owner’s Club have confirmed that the Black Shadow still sports all its correct numbers. Mike was amazed to discover the engine had not seized and that the bike rolls freely. Accompanying paperwork shows that the Black Shadow was sold by Conways to a Mr Sullivan for £291 12s 6d in 1955 and despatched to Vincent Engineers during September and October that same year for refurbishment and fettling. A final visit to Vincent Engineers on 23rd June 1961 is recorded too. Given that the Black Shadow has been hidden from view for so long, but is seemingly so highly original, the Vincent Owners’ Club have told us that they would be delighted to help a new custodian get it re-registered with the DVLA. ‘Barn finds’ rarely come much better!
For more information, please contact:
Mike Davis
mike.davis@handh.co.uk
07718 584217