Single owner for 55 years, 1950 Vincent 998cc Series-C Black Shadow

• Matching numbers
• Present ownership since 1965
• Continuously maintained and in good order

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 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. 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, matching-numbers examples of the marque, such as that offered here.

'PJO 175' was purchased by the current vendor in 1965 and used regularly when first acquired. Rebuilt over time to facilitate constant use, the Vincent has been ridden sparingly over the last 20-or-so years and is presented in good order. Offered from careful long-term ownership, it is a prime candidate for continued use or sympathetic restoration. A wonderful opportunity to acquire a genuine Black Shadow that can be used 'as is' or further improved. Accompanying documentation includes an VOC dating certificate; an old-style continuation logbook (issued 1955); a V5C Registration Certificate; and copies of the Works Order Form and other factory paperwork. Key not required.