1939 Vincent-HRD 498cc Series-A Comet

Rear Frame Number. D1705

• Full matching numbers: registration, engine, upper and rear frames, gearbox, oil pump
• Present ownership for over 50 years
• Original and unrestored
• For preservation

The Vincent-HRD marque originated in 1928 when Philip Vincent acquired the name and assets 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). Vincent moved production from Wolverhampton to Stevenage and set about putting his motorcycle design ideas into practice, commencing with an innovative sprung frame that would remain a feature of Vincent motorcycles until production ceased in 1955.

Like Davies before him, Vincent relied on proprietary engines until increasing dissatisfaction with suppliers led to the creation of Vincent's own in 1934. An overhead-valve, 500cc single, this all-new power unit was designed jointly by PCV and his Chief Engineer Phil Irving. Messrs Vincent and Irving brought fresh thinking to the design of what would become known as the Series-A motor, opting for a relatively short stroke of 90mm coupled to an 84mm bore; a high-set camshaft and two guides for each valve with the rocker arm engaging between them; the sum of all these features resulting in a compact engine with considerable scope for tuning.

The names 'Comet' and 'Meteor' were chosen for the sports and touring versions respectively of the stylish new Vincent-HRD, which had not even been started, let alone ridden, when it was first exhibited at the 1934 Motor Cycle Show at Olympia. Fortunately, during the Show a tester achieved a speed of 90mph on a Comet, a highly respectable figure for a 500cc sports roadster and one that fully justified Philip Vincent's prior performance claims. In the 1935 Isle of Man Senior TT, the new Vincent-HRDs finished in 7th, 9th and 12th places, demonstrating that they possessed reliability as well as speed. Sales increased steadily, but the Vincent was an expensive product and ownership remained the privilege of a wealthy few. Production of all Series-A Vincent-HRDs ceased on the outbreak of WW2, and today the pre-war Comet and Meteor – the machines that effectively kick-started the Vincent legend – are highly prized by discerning collectors.

This wonderfully preserved Vincent-HRD Comet comes with an old-style buff logbook issued in 1945 recording three owners. Last of the three listed, the current vendor purchased the Comet from the second listed (Richard Halfpenny, a friend of his) in 1970 but did not register it until 1971. The vendor was on a Vintage rally in Littlehampton and stopped halfway to drop in on Richard and strike a deal to buy two Vincent-HRDs (this one and another 'for spares') for all of £60!

Showing circa 20,000 miles on the odometer when purchased, the Comet was in the 'oily rag' condition it is presented today; the vendor simply had to clean the carburettor, fuel taps and ignition points, etc to get it back on the road. A rocker broke some years ago and was replaced, but apart from that it has never let its owner down. The Vincent has been ridden on various events and rallies including some 600-or-so trouble-free miles in Hungary while visiting friends. It has also been ridden around Mallory Park on various occasions and used as occasional day-to-day transport over the years, but the owner preferred to put miles on his trusty 1920s Sunbeam. The current odometer reading is a believed genuine (but unwarranted) 22,425 miles

The vendor advises us that the machine is mostly original and unrestored, except for a BSA silencer and Lucas dynamo. All fittings are correct whereas on many bikes the square-headed bolts have been lost and replaced with more modern types.

The Vincent Owners Club kindly confirm that this matching numbers example (a 'full set' including gearbox and oil pump) was manufactured on the 26th of June 1939 and the works order form lists the customer as 'Bodington', although it is not known whether this was a dealer or specific end-customer. And commented:

"What a great bike to find with its patina and more interestingly it has a lot of original features on it, some of which usually over the years get replaced or just lost".

Accompanying paperwork includes old/current V5/V5C documents: an HPI check printout; the aforementioned old-style logbook; and two instruction books. A unique opportunity to acquire an incredibly original example!