Winner of the VOC's The Phil Irving Basket Case Award in 2016, 1950 Vincent 499cc Rapide/Comet, Frame no. RC11628 Engine no. F5AB/2A/6523

Winner of the VOC's The Phil Irving Basket Case Award in 2016
1950 Vincent 499cc Rapide/Comet
Frame no. RC11628
Engine no. F5AB/2A/6523
• A superb machine made from a matching numbers Rapide frame and a Comet engine
• A masterful restoration

The Vincent HRD brand originated in 1928 when Philip C. Vincent acquired the name, jigs, tools and patterns of the recently liquidated HRD Company. 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 others, Vincent relied on proprietary engines until increasing dissatisfaction with suppliers led to the creation of Vincent's own motor in 1934. An overhead-valve 500cc single, this all-new power unit was designed jointly by Vincent and Chief Engineer Phil Irving.

Production was stopped for WW2, then restarted soon after with the short-lived Series B Comets, which soon gave way to the successful Series C singles, built from 1948 to 1954. Effectively a Rapide V-twin minus its rear cylinder, the Comet offered the same degree of refinement as its bigger brother, albeit with reduced performance. Even so, the Comet combined a 90mph potential with excellent fuel economy and was the ideal touring mount for the discerning solo rider who placed civility of manners and quality of construction above outright performance. Apart from the missing cylinder, the Comet followed Series C twin lines, the model featuring the newly introduced Girdraulic forks and hydraulic dampers at front and rear. An expensive machine to produce, it did not sell as well as its maker had hoped and was dropped when the Series D was introduced for 1954.

The Series C Rapide/Comet on offer here is a unique machine in that it features a Comet engine in a Rapide frame. The donor Rapide was shipped to the US in October 1952 and the Comet in April the previous year. When they were actually mated together is unknown. What is very clear is that the assembly work was truly excellent enabling a superb restoration to be completed in 2016, superb enough for it to win The Phil Irving Basket Case Award at the Vincent OC Rally in Missoula, Montana that year, the seller having ridden it there and back to Oregon without mishap. This Rapide/Comet is only the seventh bike ever to receive the award. A comprehensive history file is available for this work including those for the BTH electronic magneto, Alan Osborn's AO Services V-Reg IIb dynamo regulator and Shorai battery. (The original, and rebuilt, magneto comes with the bike.)

Some three years post restoration the vendor advises us that the bike is still ready to hit the road at a moment's notice. Still truly excellent in every regard.