LOT 474
Property of a deceased's estate c.1931 Vincent-HRD 500cc Two-Port OHV Sports Model Registration no. not registered Frame no. P418 (see text) Engine no. KOZ/H 11191
Sold for £73,600 inc. premium
Lot 474
Property of a deceased's estate, c.1931 Vincent-HRD 500cc Two-Port OHV Sports ModelRegistration no. not registered Frame no. P418 (see text) Engine no. KOZ/H 11191
The Autumn Sale - The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Stafford|9 October 2021, 12:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground
Property of a deceased's estate
c.1931 Vincent-HRD 500cc Two-Port OHV Sports Model
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. P418 (see text)
Engine no. KOZ/H 11191
c.1931 Vincent-HRD 500cc Two-Port OHV Sports Model
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. P418 (see text)
Engine no. KOZ/H 11191
• One of only 25 Two-Port OHV Sports Models sold in 1931
• Present ownership since 1987
• Substantial history file
The Vincent-HRD marque originated in 1928 when Philip C Vincent acquired the name, jigs, tools and patterns of the recently liquidated HRD Company. ('HRD' stood for Howard Raymond Davies, the Isle of Man TT winner who had founded the firm in 1924.) Having read Mechanical Engineering at Kings College, Cambridge, Vincent was highly critical of the characteristics of contemporary motorcycles, their lack of rear suspension in particular, and built his own sprung-frame prototype in 1927. With its pivoting triangulated rear fork and springs mounted beneath the saddle, it set the pattern for all future Vincent motorcycles.
However, the motorcycling public remained unconvinced of the advantages of rear suspension, and that, coupled with the fact that the first Vincent frames used triangulated straight tubes and looked unconventionally 'Cotton-like' in appearance, only served to depress sales still further. In 1930 Vincent sold only 35 machines, rising to 50 in 1931.
Like Davies before him, Vincent relied on proprietary engines until increasing dissatisfaction with suppliers led to the creation of Vincent's own in 1934. Until then he had sourced engines from both JAP and Rudge. By this time the triangulated frames had gone, replaced by more conventional 'diamond' types, albeit still with rear springing.
With 22 sold in 1930 and 25 in 1931, the 500cc Two-Port OHV Sports Model was by far the most popular in the Vincent-HRD range during that period. This example is believed to have been raced in Ireland during the 1930s before coming to the UK in the late 1940s.
The dry-sump JAP engine is coded 'H' for 1931 so would have been manufactured at any time between 1st September 1930 and 31st August 1931. Strangely, frame number 'P418' is not listed in the works order book, the sequence going from 'P417' to 'P419'. Vincent was experiencing cracked frames at this time, and it has been suggested that 'P418' might have been supplied as a replacement, although there is no evidence to support this.
This motorcycle has for many years been associated with the (Irish) registration 'IL 4247', but the frame number does not match that on the V5C and so the machine is offered without a V5C Registration Certificate. The Vincent was acquired by the late owner in 1987 having previously belonged to one Harold Turner of Caversham, Reading. It comes with a most substantial history file containing old registration documents; sundry magazines; photocopy instruction books; a quantity of MoTs (most recent expired 2013); and copious correspondence (close examination recommended).
• Present ownership since 1987
• Substantial history file
The Vincent-HRD marque originated in 1928 when Philip C Vincent acquired the name, jigs, tools and patterns of the recently liquidated HRD Company. ('HRD' stood for Howard Raymond Davies, the Isle of Man TT winner who had founded the firm in 1924.) Having read Mechanical Engineering at Kings College, Cambridge, Vincent was highly critical of the characteristics of contemporary motorcycles, their lack of rear suspension in particular, and built his own sprung-frame prototype in 1927. With its pivoting triangulated rear fork and springs mounted beneath the saddle, it set the pattern for all future Vincent motorcycles.
However, the motorcycling public remained unconvinced of the advantages of rear suspension, and that, coupled with the fact that the first Vincent frames used triangulated straight tubes and looked unconventionally 'Cotton-like' in appearance, only served to depress sales still further. In 1930 Vincent sold only 35 machines, rising to 50 in 1931.
Like Davies before him, Vincent relied on proprietary engines until increasing dissatisfaction with suppliers led to the creation of Vincent's own in 1934. Until then he had sourced engines from both JAP and Rudge. By this time the triangulated frames had gone, replaced by more conventional 'diamond' types, albeit still with rear springing.
With 22 sold in 1930 and 25 in 1931, the 500cc Two-Port OHV Sports Model was by far the most popular in the Vincent-HRD range during that period. This example is believed to have been raced in Ireland during the 1930s before coming to the UK in the late 1940s.
The dry-sump JAP engine is coded 'H' for 1931 so would have been manufactured at any time between 1st September 1930 and 31st August 1931. Strangely, frame number 'P418' is not listed in the works order book, the sequence going from 'P417' to 'P419'. Vincent was experiencing cracked frames at this time, and it has been suggested that 'P418' might have been supplied as a replacement, although there is no evidence to support this.
This motorcycle has for many years been associated with the (Irish) registration 'IL 4247', but the frame number does not match that on the V5C and so the machine is offered without a V5C Registration Certificate. The Vincent was acquired by the late owner in 1987 having previously belonged to one Harold Turner of Caversham, Reading. It comes with a most substantial history file containing old registration documents; sundry magazines; photocopy instruction books; a quantity of MoTs (most recent expired 2013); and copious correspondence (close examination recommended).
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 engine number is KOZ/H 11191/S. There is a believed pre-war Burman gearbox (numbered IBAPDH 36785) offered with the Lot.
Additional information
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