1952 Vincent 998cc Series-C Rapide Watsonian Combination

Registration no. MXH 127 Frame no. RC10113/E Rear Frame no. RC10113/E Engine no. F10AB/1/8213 Crankcase nos. XX 77 / XX 77

• Present ownership since 1993
• Matching numbers example

Phil Vincent and fellow engineer Phil Irving designed their own engine for 1934, with their (now traditional) high-camshaft layout. Initial models with this engine were the Meteor and Comet, later variations being the Comet Special and the TT model.
Soon after, by the relatively simple expedient of mounting two top ends onto a common crankcase, the A series 998cc twin was evolved in 1936, with the apocryphal tale of the Series A twins being conceived as a result of two single-cylinder drawings being overlapped. However, production of this model only lasted until war broke out in 1939.

Post war, Phil Vincent and designer Phil Irving, who had returned to the company during the war years, laid down the details of the new post war V-twin to replace the pre-war series A; their ambition for the model was that it would live up to their proposed advertising strapline for the machine of 'The World's fastest standard Motorcycle!'. Introduced in 1946 the Rapide was certainly fast, but it soon became clear to Vincent that a tuned version would be required to further enhance the marque, and the Black Shadow was announced in the early part of 1948 with a reputed top speed of 125 mph. The Series B Rapide and Shadow were supplanted by the Series C version after only around one year.

'MXH 127' was originally supplied to dealers Humphries in London in December 1951. It was purchased by the deceased owner in 1993 from Brian Verrall (invoice on file). When acquired by the late owner, the bike was in solo form, but he commissioned Charnwood Classic Restorations to fit the present Watsonian Albion single seater sidecar (invoice on file). The Albion was a current sidecar in 1952, so forms a perfect match for the big twin. It is fitted with the Smiths five-inch 150 mph speedometer, as fitted to the Black Shadow. Old MoTs on file suggest that the sidecar was fitted within two months of purchase, and that the bike covered only approximately 536 miles in the present ownership, 520 miles of that with the newly fitted sidecar. However, the buff log book in the document file indicates that a sidecar had been previously fitted at one time. The Rapide was in use only until 1995 before being laid up, and has been dry garage-stored since that time. It will, therefore, need careful re-commissioning and safety checks prior to use on the road by a new owner. Documentation comprises a current V5C, an old V5C, a copy old V5, an original RF60 continuation buff log book dated 1957, some old MoT certificates, the aforementioned invoices, and sundry papers. The machine is presently on SORN.