Vincent Motorcycles
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Vincent was a British motorcycle marque from 1928 to 1955. Their most famous model is the Black Shadow, one of the top-performing motorcycles of the 1950s.
History
Vincent HRD Co., Ltd was formed when Philip Vincent bought the remaining assets of the HRD Motorcycles company (from its founder Howard Raymond Davies), a motorcycle manufacturer using , in 1928. The HRD was a part of the company logo except in the USA. The most notable figure in Vincents history, Phil Irving, joined the company as chief engineer in 1931.The companys first twin engine bike was the Vincent Rapide. Irving left to work for Velocette in 1937, returning to the company in 1943. The next bike was the series B Rapide. This was followed in 1948 by the Black Shadow.
In 1955 the company's board of directors decided to discontinue motorcycle production due to heavy financial losses.
In 1994 the Vincent trademark was purchased and a new company has been formed in the US called Vincent Motors and it has announced that future production of motorcycles is planned, including a modern version of the Black Shadow.
The Vincent motorcycle hold cult followers/collectors and to this day is a famous bike.
Immortalized in Richard Thompson's song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning".*[link]
Cafe racers built from Vincent engines and Norton featherbed frames are "Norvins".
Inspired the name of the heavy rock band The Vincent.
External links
- [www.voc.uk.com] the world wide vincent owners club (VOC) site with extensive archives
- [www.vincentmotors.com] - Vincent Motors USA official site
- [www.thevincent.com] - Vincent Motorcycles Classified, Technical articles and photo galleries.
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