1950 Vincent 499cc Comet

Registration no. MAT 472 Frame no. RC/1/7336 Rear Frame no. RC/1/7336 Engine no. F5AB/2A/5436

Unlike in pre-war days, when the first (Series-A) Vincent-HRD v-twin had been created by - in effect - combining two of the existing singles, post-WW2 Vincent's approach was reversed, with the Series-B twin appearing first, in 1946, and the single-cylinder version in 1948. The latter was offered in two forms initially: Series-B Meteor and Series-C Comet. Apart from its Burman gearbox and 'missing' cylinder, the Comet followed Series-C twin lines, featuring the newly introduced Girdraulic front fork and hydraulic dampers at front and rear, while the Meteor retained the old Brampton girders. The Meteor was soon dropped but the Comet continued in production until 1954, offering the same degree of refinement as its bigger brother, albeit with reduced performance. Even so, the Comet combined a 90mph potential with excellent fuel economy, and was the ideal touring mount for the discerning rider who placed civility of manners and quality of construction above outright performance. An expensive machine to produce, the Comet did not sell as well as its maker had hoped and was dropped when the Series-D range was introduced. Shed stored for many years, this exceptionally original matching-numbers Comet was fully refurbished by its engineer owner in 2008 using original parts wherever possible, including authentic alloy mudguards (painted silver). The engine also was rebuilt with new parts and the machine has covered only some 1,000 miles since restoration. Accompanying documentation consists of some expired MoTs and a V5C Registration Certificate.