LOT 477
Property of a deceased's estate 1950 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black Shadow Registration no. LGP 204 (see text) Frame no. none visible (see text) Rear frame no. RC5848B Engine no. F10AB/1B/3948 Crankcase Mating no's. FF42/FF42
Estimate: £38,000 - £45,000
Lot 477
Property of a deceased's estate, 1950 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black ShadowRegistration no. LGP 204 (see text) Frame no. none visible (see text) Rear frame no. RC5848B Engine no. F10AB/1B/3948 Crankcase Mating no's. FF42/FF42
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
1950 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black Shadow
Registration no. LGP 204 (see text)
Frame no. none visible (see text) Rear frame no. RC5848B
Engine no. F10AB/1B/3948 Crankcase Mating no's. FF42/FF42
1950 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black Shadow
Registration no. LGP 204 (see text)
Frame no. none visible (see text) Rear frame no. RC5848B
Engine no. F10AB/1B/3948 Crankcase Mating no's. FF42/FF42
• Matching engine and rear frame
• Present ownership since 1985
• Off the road for the last few years
• Requires re-commissioning
Ever since the Series A's arrival in 1937, the Vincent v-twin has been synonymous with design innovation, engineering excellence and superlative high performance. From Rollie Free's capture of the 'world's fastest production motorcycle' record in 1948 on a tuned Series-B Black Shadow to the final fully enclosed Black Knight and Black Prince, Philip Vincent's stress on appearance and performance is legendary. His machines bristled with innovative features, offering adjustment of brake pedal, footrests, seat height and gear-change lever. The finish was to a very high standard commensurate with the cost of the machine, which was virtually double that of any of its contemporaries.
But above all else it was the v-twin's stupendous performance that captivated motorcyclists, whether they could afford one or not. The appeal of the Vincent, and the Black Shadow in particular, lay in its ability to out-perform just about every other vehicle on the road, and in the early post-war years there was nothing to compare with it. This was a time when the average family sedan was barely capable of reaching 70mph, and not until the advent of Jaguar's XK120 was there a production sports car that could live with the thundering v-twins from Stevenage. With a top speed approaching 120mph and bettering it in the Black Shadow's case, the Vincent v-twin was quite simply the fastest road vehicle of its day.
The Black Shadow was indeed a legend in its own lifetime, and in the 60-plus years since production ceased, the esteem in which this iconic motorcycle is held has only increased, fuelling the demand among discerning collectors for well-preserved examples of the marque, such as that offered here.
Engine number 'F10AB/1B/3948' and rear frame 'RC5848B' are those of a Series-C Black Shadow dispatched to Conway's in London in May 1950. The upper frame would have been stamped by the factory when new, so it seems that it has been replaced with a blank one at some time. Accordingly prospective bidders must satisfy themselves as to the validity of the Vehicle Registration Number, and authenticity of the machine's components prior to bidding. Its late owner purchased the Black Shadow in November 1985. The machine would respond well to detailing and will require re-commissioning to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road. Amal Concentric carburettors – a sensible upgrade – are a particularly noteworthy feature. The history file contains numerous invoices; a V5C document; assorted correspondence; a service manual and handbooks; a quantity of marque-related literature; and an expired MoT (2014).
• Present ownership since 1985
• Off the road for the last few years
• Requires re-commissioning
Ever since the Series A's arrival in 1937, the Vincent v-twin has been synonymous with design innovation, engineering excellence and superlative high performance. From Rollie Free's capture of the 'world's fastest production motorcycle' record in 1948 on a tuned Series-B Black Shadow to the final fully enclosed Black Knight and Black Prince, Philip Vincent's stress on appearance and performance is legendary. His machines bristled with innovative features, offering adjustment of brake pedal, footrests, seat height and gear-change lever. The finish was to a very high standard commensurate with the cost of the machine, which was virtually double that of any of its contemporaries.
But above all else it was the v-twin's stupendous performance that captivated motorcyclists, whether they could afford one or not. The appeal of the Vincent, and the Black Shadow in particular, lay in its ability to out-perform just about every other vehicle on the road, and in the early post-war years there was nothing to compare with it. This was a time when the average family sedan was barely capable of reaching 70mph, and not until the advent of Jaguar's XK120 was there a production sports car that could live with the thundering v-twins from Stevenage. With a top speed approaching 120mph and bettering it in the Black Shadow's case, the Vincent v-twin was quite simply the fastest road vehicle of its day.
The Black Shadow was indeed a legend in its own lifetime, and in the 60-plus years since production ceased, the esteem in which this iconic motorcycle is held has only increased, fuelling the demand among discerning collectors for well-preserved examples of the marque, such as that offered here.
Engine number 'F10AB/1B/3948' and rear frame 'RC5848B' are those of a Series-C Black Shadow dispatched to Conway's in London in May 1950. The upper frame would have been stamped by the factory when new, so it seems that it has been replaced with a blank one at some time. Accordingly prospective bidders must satisfy themselves as to the validity of the Vehicle Registration Number, and authenticity of the machine's components prior to bidding. Its late owner purchased the Black Shadow in November 1985. The machine would respond well to detailing and will require re-commissioning to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road. Amal Concentric carburettors – a sensible upgrade – are a particularly noteworthy feature. The history file contains numerous invoices; a V5C document; assorted correspondence; a service manual and handbooks; a quantity of marque-related literature; and an expired MoT (2014).
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.
Additional information
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