1949 Vincent-HRD 499cc Meteor Series B

1949 Vincent-HRD 499cc Meteor Series B
Registration no. KFJ 349
Frame no. R/1/4591
Engine no. F5AB/2/2691
RFM - R/1/4591
Gearbox - G97C50

• Rare post-war single-cylinder model
• Matching frame and engine numbers
• VOC Certificate of Authenticity

The Vincent-HRD marque originated in 1928 when Philip C Vincent acquired the name, jigs, tools and patterns of the recently liquidated HRD Company. ('HRD' stood for Howard Raymond Davies, the Isle of Man TT winner who had founded the firm in 1924). Vincent moved production from Wolverhampton to Stevenage and set about putting his motorcycle design ideas into practice, commencing with an innovative sprung frame that would remain a feature of Vincent motorcycles until production ceased in 1955.

Like Davies before him, Vincent relied on proprietary engines until increasing dissatisfaction with suppliers led to the creation of Vincent's own 500cc single in 1934, which was later doubled up to create the legendary Series-A Rapide v-twin. Post-war this situation was reversed, with an all-new v-twin appearing first, in May 1946, followed by the single-cylinder version in 1949. The latter was offered in two forms initially – Series-B Meteor and Series-C Comet – the main differences between the two being the new Girdraulic front fork fitted to the latter, while the former retained the old Brampton girders, and the Meteor's slightly smaller carburettor. When production of Series-B models was phased out during 1950 the Meteor disappeared from the range, making it one of the rarer of post-war Vincent-HRDs.

This rare Vincent-HRD Meteor comes with a copy of its Works Order Form showing that it was despatched from the factory on 25th August 1949 to 'Green', Newton Abbott, while the accompanying VOC Certificate of Authenticity confirms that the frame and engine numbers match. The history folder also contains an old-style continuation logbook (issued 1970), sundry bills, copies of old registration documents, SORN paperwork, an expired MoT (November 2001), and the most recent V5C.