1950 Vincent 499cc Comet

Registration no. PFC 782 Frame no. RC/1/6020 Rear Frame no. RC/1/6020 Engine no. F5AB/2A/4120 Crankcase nos. 32 I / 32 I

• Present ownership since 1984
• Matching numbers example

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 125mph the Series B Black Shadow was supplanted by the Series C version after only around one year.

There is an apocryphal tale of the Series A twins being conceived as a result of two single-cylinder drawings being overlapped; in the same way, it could be said that the post-war single cylinder engine was brought about by the use of a rubber – removing the rear cylinder of the existing twin-pot design. In other respects, the layout was almost identical, with the same 'frameless' cycle parts being employed for the single and the twin. On the singles the rear cylinder was replaced with a cast alloy beam, and the gearbox employed was the familiar Burman item. Announced in late 1948, a few single cylinder Meteors were produced before being joined soon after by the Comet in Series C form with Girdraulic forks, as opposed to the Brampton girders on the Meteor. The Comet was a little more expensive than the Meteor, and equipped with a higher compression ratio, front propstands, and Girdraulic forks.

'PFC 782' was originally supplied to Kings of Oxford in June 1950. It was purchased by the deceased owner in 1984 (receipt on file). The Comet had the cylinder head reconditioned in 1992 by Bob Dunn, who fitted unleaded valve seats, new valves and guides. When acquired, the bike was used by the owner for some years, but has been dry garage-stored and not used since approximately 1990. 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, an old V5, an original VE60 continuation green log book dated 1974, a quantity of old MoT certificates, the aforementioned receipt, two handbooks and sundry papers. The machine is presently on SORN.