From the collection of the late James Mannings, 1955 Vincent 998cc Series-D Black Shadow

• Single-family ownership from new
• Fully matching numbers
• Ridden twice in the last 36 years
• Requires recommissioning

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. Sadly, 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 around 460 Series-D v-twins had been built, some 200 of which were enclosed models.

The Vincent Owners Club has kindly confirmed that engine 'F10AB/2B/10687' and both upper and rear frames 'RFM RD12587B' are the numbers of a Series-D Black Shadow manufactured in 1955 and registered 'MAM 598'. The VOC does not have the factory records for the Series-D machines so it is not known to which dealership the bike was sent. Nevertheless, 'MAM' is a Wiltshire registration and the original owner was from Swindon, which fits area-wise. Swindon Motors was a local dealership so it was probably sold by them.

The Shadow was purchased new by John Frederick Werrell of Swindon (the late owner's cousin) in April 1955. The original RF.60 logbook does not list a supplying dealer but records a registration date of 5th April 1955, with taxation stamps from 1955 through 1966. In August 1988 the Vincent was passed to the late owner, who rode it only twice during the next 36 years. The last MoT expired in 1993 and the current odometer reading is 33,476 miles. The saddle has been replaced (date unknown) but the original saddle is included in the sale. There is a 1989 receipt on file from Ron Kemp Engineering for various works, together with others accumulated between 2004 and 2012 for parts supplied by the VOC Spares Co. The machine also comes with a V5C document, part old V5, some expired tax discs and MoTs, and the aforementioned invoices and old RF.60. The engine turns over, but the machine will require recommissioning to some extent, or possibly more extensive restoration, before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed.