1954 Vincent 998cc Series-C Rapide 'Double Flash'

Matching numbers
Present ownership since 1994
Refinished in Grey Flash Livery circa 2003
Recently recommissioned

The outbreak of WW2 in 1939 brought production of all Series A models to a halt, and when Vincent resumed production 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, that 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 on the Series C.

Introduced in 1946, the Vincent-HRD Rapide Series B 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. In 1948 the Vincent range began to be up-dated to Series C specification but it would be 1950 before all Vincents left the factory in this form.

In standard trim when the vendor purchased it in 1994, this stunning looking Rapide has been refinished in the distinctive livery of the single-cylinder 500cc Grey Flash racing model, the work being undertaken professionally circa 2003, since when it has been stored. Its accompanying original logbook shows that the Vincent had been sold new via the Glanfield Lawrence dealership in Bristol.

In July 2022, Brian Werrett from the Vincent Owners Club's Gloucester section checked the machine over, replacing the fuel taps and fitting new ignition leads and new front brake drums, leaving it in running order. Accompanying documentation includes sundry invoices; an expired MoT (2004); and old/current V5/V5C registration documents.