Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
29th Mar, 2023 12:00
1955 Vincent Black Shadow
One of only 140 Series 'D' Shadows
Estimate
£15, 000 - £20, 000
Registration No: RLO 438
Frame No: RD 12754B
Engine No: F10AB/ 2B/ 10854
CC: 1000
MOT: Exempt
One of only about 144 Series D Black Shadows produced
Part of a deceased estate and stood for a number of years
Engine turns over on kickstarter, a matching numbers bike
Vincent’s origins date back to 1924 when TT winner Howard R Davies started producing motorcycles under his own name. In 1928 HRD was acquired by Phil Vincent who initially built bikes as Vincent HRD until 1949 and then Vincent thereafter. Initially producing bikes using proprietary engines in his own chassis, Vincent was always the innovator by the mid-30s he had developed his own 500cc single and 1000cc twin-cylinder designs that survived until the company's closure in 1955. Already advertising their existing 110 mph Rapide machine as "The world's fastest production motorcycle", in February 1948 the legendary Black Shadow was announced with a top speed of 125 mph. The big vee twin was the fastest motorcycle in the world at the time and with some astute marketing become the bike everyone aspired to own. The Rapide and Black Shadow range have become some of the most desirable and iconic bikes of the era.
This 1955 Series D Black Shadow is part of a deceased estate and has been stood for a number of years. The engine turns over on the kickstarter but it has not been run for a while so will require a good recommissioning or restoration before use. The engine and frame numbers are the correct 1900 apart and it appears to have survived essentially original condition, just missing its speedometer. Approximately only 144 Series 'Ds' were produced and they were the last bikes to leave the Stevenage factory before motorcycle production ceased in December 1955.
