Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands Viewing: Tues 27th October from 1pm Auction: Wed 28th October from 10am Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ Registration No: RGF 219 Frame No: RD12522BMOT: Exempt One of only 155 Series D Black Shadows made Steibs stylish S501 Zeppelin shaped sports sidecar A rare combination, supplied with a current V5C 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 named the bikes Vincent HRDs until 1949 and then simply Vincent thereafter to avoid any confusion with Harley-Davidson in the USA. Initially producing bikes using proprietary engines in his own chassis, Vincent was always the innovator and by the mid-30s 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 has now become one of the most desirable and iconic bikes of the era. The Series D range, launched in 1954, was designed to offer riders the sort of weather protection not normally found on a motorcycle, but unfortunately delays in the delivery of the fibreglass components from subcontractors held back the availability, so some were sold without the bodywork. Only 144 Series D Black Shadows were produced before motorcycle production ceased in December 1955. Sidecars were very popular in the 1950s before the advent of cheaper cars, offering a range of bodywork styles from sports to double adult for all the family. The most desirable sidecar in the 1950s was the Steib S501 single seater Sports model. Steib Metallbau was based in Nuremberg Germany and began making sidecars in 1928, following a commission from the motorcycle manufacturer Ardie. The company reached its peak in the 1950s when it produced over 50 models a day and claimed to manufacture 92% of all sidecars sold in Germany, becoming the standard model offered with BMW motorcycles. There are few better known manufacturers than the German firm whose much copied ‘Zeppelin’ style single-seater sports chairs enjoy a well-deserved reputation for sound engineering and exemplary build quality. Whilst the company closed in 1957, they are probably still the most sought after sidecar to this day, with firms offering good spares and accessory back up. Vincent and Steib are two of the most iconic names in 1950s motorcycling, and this Black Shadow based outfit has been part of a family’s private collection for the last 32 years. By 1955, the Vincent twins were at the peak of their development, with the previous upper frame member/ oil-tank replaced with a straightforward steel tube and the old dual spring dampers giving way to a single hydraulic coil-spring/ damper unit. A new rear sub frame offered support for the seat, isolating it from the suspension, and carried the oil tank. The electrical system was upgraded by a switch to Lucas coil ignition with a distributor system instead of earlier magneto setups to aid starting. Always an expensive bike to produce, the improvements couldn’t save Vincent, and the Series D models were the last of the big V-twins manufactured. This rare example has been stood for a number of years, so will need recommissioning before use, but the bike wheels freely and the engine turns over on the kickstarter and will be supplied with a current V5C. ** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply** Entry by catalogue and can be purchased for £20 (admits 2...
