
LOT 656
Property of a deceased's estate 1951 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black Shadow Registration no. NTV 761 (see text) Frame no. RC9661B Engine no. F10AB/1B/7761 Crankcase mating no. VV17 / VV17
Sold for £62,100 inc. premium
Lot 656
Property of a deceased's estate,1951 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black ShadowRegistration no. NTV 761 (see text) Frame no. RC9661B Engine no. F10AB/1B/7761 Crankcase mating no. VV17 / VV17
Property of a deceased's estate
1951 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black Shadow
Registration no. NTV 761 (see text)
Frame no. RC9661B
Engine no. F10AB/1B/7761 Crankcase mating no. VV17 / VV17
1951 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black Shadow
Registration no. NTV 761 (see text)
Frame no. RC9661B
Engine no. F10AB/1B/7761 Crankcase mating no. VV17 / VV17
Rear Frame no. RC9661B
• Fully matching numbers
• Un-restored condition
• Offered for restoration
Ever since the Series A's arrival in 1937 the Vincent v-twin has been synonymous with design innovation, engineering excellence and superlative high performance. From Rollie Free's capture of the 'world's fastest production motorcycle' record in 1948 on a tuned Series-B Black Shadow to the final fully enclosed Black Knight and Black Prince, Philip Vincent's stress on appearance and performance is legendary. His machines bristled with innovative features, offering adjustment of brake pedal, footrests, seat height and gear-change lever. The finish was to a very high standard commensurate with the cost of the machine, which was virtually double that of any of its contemporaries.
But above all else it was the v-twin's stupendous performance that captivated motorcyclists, whether they could afford one or not. The appeal of the Vincent, and the Black Shadow in particular, lay in its ability to out-perform just about every other vehicle on the road, and in the early post-war years there was nothing to compare with it. This was a time when the average family saloon was barely capable of reaching 70mph, and not until the advent of Jaguar's XK120 was there a production sports car that could live with the thundering v-twins from Stevenage. With a top speed approaching 120mph, and bettering it in the Black Shadow's case, the Vincent v-twin was quite simply the fastest road vehicle of its day.
The Black Shadow was indeed a legend in its own lifetime, and in the 60-plus years since production ceased the esteem in which this iconic motorcycle is held has only increased, fuelling the demand among discerning collectors for original examples of the marque, as seen here.
The Vincent Owners Club has confirmed that this matching-numbers Black Shadow was despatched to Blacknells of Nottingham in October 1951. Sadly, nothing else is known of its history. The engine is seized, the exhaust pipes have rusted through, and both the engine cases and Girdraulic forks have been stripped of their original black paint. Accordingly, the machine is offered for restoration and sold strictly as viewed. There are no documents with it; however, the registration 'NTV 761' does appear on the HPI database.
• Fully matching numbers
• Un-restored condition
• Offered for restoration
Ever since the Series A's arrival in 1937 the Vincent v-twin has been synonymous with design innovation, engineering excellence and superlative high performance. From Rollie Free's capture of the 'world's fastest production motorcycle' record in 1948 on a tuned Series-B Black Shadow to the final fully enclosed Black Knight and Black Prince, Philip Vincent's stress on appearance and performance is legendary. His machines bristled with innovative features, offering adjustment of brake pedal, footrests, seat height and gear-change lever. The finish was to a very high standard commensurate with the cost of the machine, which was virtually double that of any of its contemporaries.
But above all else it was the v-twin's stupendous performance that captivated motorcyclists, whether they could afford one or not. The appeal of the Vincent, and the Black Shadow in particular, lay in its ability to out-perform just about every other vehicle on the road, and in the early post-war years there was nothing to compare with it. This was a time when the average family saloon was barely capable of reaching 70mph, and not until the advent of Jaguar's XK120 was there a production sports car that could live with the thundering v-twins from Stevenage. With a top speed approaching 120mph, and bettering it in the Black Shadow's case, the Vincent v-twin was quite simply the fastest road vehicle of its day.
The Black Shadow was indeed a legend in its own lifetime, and in the 60-plus years since production ceased the esteem in which this iconic motorcycle is held has only increased, fuelling the demand among discerning collectors for original examples of the marque, as seen here.
The Vincent Owners Club has confirmed that this matching-numbers Black Shadow was despatched to Blacknells of Nottingham in October 1951. Sadly, nothing else is known of its history. The engine is seized, the exhaust pipes have rusted through, and both the engine cases and Girdraulic forks have been stripped of their original black paint. Accordingly, the machine is offered for restoration and sold strictly as viewed. There are no documents with it; however, the registration 'NTV 761' does appear on the HPI database.
Footnotes
As with all Lots in the Sale, this Lot is sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Saleroom notices
The machine is offered with a V5C Registration Certificate and continuation RF.60 issued 1961. It should be noted that the frame and engine numbers are transposed to both documents. The upper and rear frame numbers are RC9661B/C.




































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