This Vincent Rapide was rebuilt to Black Shadow specification by the National Motorcycle Museum’s renowned in house restoration team and was the subject of a feature in Classic Bike Magazine prior to its completion in Oct. 2015. Purchased as a dismantled and incomplete restoration project it comprised of all Series B Rapide parts, a 1947 UFM, a 1948 RFM and the engine dated 1949. With the case numbers being M53. This engine was completely overhauled with new Omega pistons and a clutch purchased from the VOC with most of the other new parts, copies of these invoices are supplied with the bike. On completion the bike went into private hands but remained unused. Recent further fettling work has been carried out in our own work shop and the bike is now in fine and excellent running order.
Cosmetically it is also in first class condition, the body work paint and frame powder coat is still like new, as are most of the other components as the bike has only covered test milage. Supplied with copy of the factory works order form and factory original engine spec sheet there is also a dating cert. from the VOC, and the current UK V5C logbook dating the bike as a 1947 Vincent. A truly usable example in ‘as new’ condition this Vincent V twin has all the style of an early B series Black Shadow with the rare Brampton front forks at an absolute fraction of the cost of the genuine example.
