LOT 808
1948 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-B Rapide Registration no. ACH 862 Frame no. R2460 Rear Frame no. R2460 Engine no. F10AB/1/461 Crankcase Mating no. E66/E66
Sold for £36,800 inc. premium
Lot 808
1948 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-B RapideRegistration no. ACH 862 Frame no. R2460 Rear Frame no. R2460 Engine no. F10AB/1/461 Crankcase Mating no. E66/E66
1948 Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-B Rapide
Registration no. ACH 862
Frame no. R2460 Rear Frame no. R2460
Engine no. F10AB/1/461 Crankcase Mating no. E66/E66
Registration no. ACH 862
Frame no. R2460 Rear Frame no. R2460
Engine no. F10AB/1/461 Crankcase Mating no. E66/E66
• Matching frame and engine numbers
• Present family ownership since 1980
• Believed last used in 1988
The outbreak of WW2 in 1939 brought production of all Vincent's Series A models to a halt, and when production resumed at the war's end it was with the all-new Series B. Its rear suspension aside, the Series A Vincent-HRD had been conventional enough: tubular steel frame, girder forks, separate gearbox, etc but with the Series B Messrs Vincent and Irving effectively established the marque's reputation for the defiance of convention in the pursuit of engineering excellence. For a start there was no 'frame' as such, merely a fabricated box attached to the cylinder heads, which served as the oil tank and incorporated the headstock and the attachment point for the rear springs. The gearbox was integral with the engine, and the swinging arm pivoted directly in the engine/gearbox casings, features commonplace today but unusual 60 years ago. Only in his retention of the pre-war Brampton girder fork did Phillip Vincent appear to be lagging behind other manufacturers, almost all of which had switched to telescopics, but this apparent shortcoming would soon be addressed by the introduction of the famous 'Girdraulic' fork.
Introduced in 1946, the Vincent-HRD Series B Rapide was immediately the fastest production motorcycle on sale anywhere, with a top speed of 110mph. The basic design clearly had even greater potential though, which would be realised later in the form of the Black Shadow and Black Lightning models.
This Series B Rapide was despatched to the Blacknells dealership in Derby in January 1948. Despite not conforming to the '1900' rule, this machine's frame and engine number pairing is correct. It is believed that the Vincent had already been restored when the late owner purchased it at a UK auction in 1980 (see correspondence on file). His daughter remembers being collected from school on the bike and recalls that her father loved owning it and polishing it. Indeed, so proud of it was he that he would bring the Rapide into the front garden to clean, so it was on public view. How also loved the sound it made. The machine carries a tax disc that expired in 1988 and the most recent MoT dates from that year, suggesting that the machine has not been used for over 30 years. Last run in April 2021, it will require re-commissioning or possibly more extensive restoration before returning to the road. Additional documentation includes sundry bills, mainly for parts; an old-style buff logbook (issued 1962); and a V5C Registration Certificate.
• Present family ownership since 1980
• Believed last used in 1988
The outbreak of WW2 in 1939 brought production of all Vincent's Series A models to a halt, and when production resumed at the war's end it was with the all-new Series B. Its rear suspension aside, the Series A Vincent-HRD had been conventional enough: tubular steel frame, girder forks, separate gearbox, etc but with the Series B Messrs Vincent and Irving effectively established the marque's reputation for the defiance of convention in the pursuit of engineering excellence. For a start there was no 'frame' as such, merely a fabricated box attached to the cylinder heads, which served as the oil tank and incorporated the headstock and the attachment point for the rear springs. The gearbox was integral with the engine, and the swinging arm pivoted directly in the engine/gearbox casings, features commonplace today but unusual 60 years ago. Only in his retention of the pre-war Brampton girder fork did Phillip Vincent appear to be lagging behind other manufacturers, almost all of which had switched to telescopics, but this apparent shortcoming would soon be addressed by the introduction of the famous 'Girdraulic' fork.
Introduced in 1946, the Vincent-HRD Series B Rapide was immediately the fastest production motorcycle on sale anywhere, with a top speed of 110mph. The basic design clearly had even greater potential though, which would be realised later in the form of the Black Shadow and Black Lightning models.
This Series B Rapide was despatched to the Blacknells dealership in Derby in January 1948. Despite not conforming to the '1900' rule, this machine's frame and engine number pairing is correct. It is believed that the Vincent had already been restored when the late owner purchased it at a UK auction in 1980 (see correspondence on file). His daughter remembers being collected from school on the bike and recalls that her father loved owning it and polishing it. Indeed, so proud of it was he that he would bring the Rapide into the front garden to clean, so it was on public view. How also loved the sound it made. The machine carries a tax disc that expired in 1988 and the most recent MoT dates from that year, suggesting that the machine has not been used for over 30 years. Last run in April 2021, it will require re-commissioning or possibly more extensive restoration before returning to the road. Additional documentation includes sundry bills, mainly for parts; an old-style buff logbook (issued 1962); and a V5C Registration Certificate.
Additional information
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