1955 Vincent 998cc Series-D Black Prince

Registration no. 919 XVP (see text) Frame no. RD12388B/F (see text) Engine no. F10/AB/2B/11088

• Matching factory correct numbers
• Single family ownership between 1963 and 2014
• Off the road for 52 years (1967-2019)
• Professionally restored by Mick Cook between 2016 and 2019
• Original logbook present

Ever since the Series-A Rapide's arrival in 1937, the Vincent v-twin had been synonymous with design innovation, engineering excellence and superlative high performance. So in September 1955 when it was revealed that production of the Stevenage-built machines would cease, the news stunned the motorcycling world. It had been decided that the firm's future lay in more profitable lines of manufacture, and only 100 more of the fabulous v-twins would be completed. By the time its demise was announced, Vincent's final twin - the Series D - had been in production for just six months.

It had been Philip Vincent's belief that provision of ample weather protection combined with enclosure of engine and gearbox, would make the Vincent Series D the ultimate 'gentleman's motorcycle' and to reflect this change of emphasis the enclosed Rapide and Black Shadow were known as Black Knight and Black Prince respectively. In actuality, delayed delivery of the glassfibre panels - plus continuing demand for traditionally styled models - resulted in over half the production leaving the Stevenage factory in un-enclosed form.

Other Series-D innovations included a new frame and rear suspension; a steel tube replaced the original fabricated upper member/oil tank while the paired spring boxes gave way to a single hydraulic coil-spring/damper unit offering a generous seven inches of suspension travel. In place of the integral oil reservoir there was a separate tank beneath the seat. The user-friendly hand-operated centre stand was a welcome addition, and there were many improvements to the peerless v-twin engine including coil ignition for easier starting and Amal Monobloc carburettors. Sadly though, the Shadow's magnificent 5"-diameter Smiths speedometer had been replaced by a standard 3" unit.

Notwithstanding the fact that, as far as Philip Vincent was concerned, the Series D was his finest design, the motorcycle-buying public greeted the innovative new models with suspicion, as is so often the case. 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 saloon 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. Its creator's vision of the Series D as a two-wheeled Grande Routière just did not conform to the public's perception of the Vincent as the ultimate sports motorcycle. The firm lost money on every machine made, and when production ceased in December 1955 only 460 Series-D v-twins had been built, some 200 of which were enclosed models like the example offered here.

First registered in June 1956, this Black Prince comes with its original logbook recording one William Noble of Falmouth as first owner followed by three others, the last of whom, Roy Drawater, purchased it in 1963. Around 1967 the Vincent was taken off the road for restoration but the project never got beyond disassembly and it remained in dry storage for 47 years. In June 2014 the machine was offered for sale for the first time in 50 years by a member of Roy Drawater's family at Bonhams' Banbury Run auction (Lot 55). Despite being dismantled, it achieved a then world record price of £91,000!

Since then the Black Prince has been treated to a no-expense-spared 'ground upwards' restoration by marque specialist Mick Cook, which was completed in 2019 (bills available). Later that same year the Vincent was featured in an article for Classic Driver written by Simon de Burton (printout on file). Engine and frame numbers match but it should be noted that, due to a clerical error, the logbook and V5C record the latter as 'FF401.638585', which is actually the casting number on the front forks! Expired in May 1967, the last tax disc (still in its holder) is included in the sale. The original registration ('WCV 870') having lapsed, the Vincent is currently registered in the UK as '919 XVP'. Undoubtedly one of the finest of its kind in existence, this beautiful Black Prince is described by the vendor as in excellent, 'like new' condition throughout and is worthy of the closest inspection.
Offered with key