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Production figuresVincent Motorcycle Serial Numbers and Post-War Production RecordsENGINE SERIAL NUMBERSThe following numbers are provided as general guidance. There are many opinions as to number of Vincents produced, exact year, and serial number breaks. Your opinion is welcomed and may prevail on the next version of this list To obtain the matching frame number, add 1900 to the engine number (with specific documented exceptions). Vincent Engineers was a very small company and exceptions were made.
Engine Model Identification by Series
Where are the Numbers Located ?The Engine Number is stamped on the left side of the crankcase (viewed from sitting on the bike) just below the cylinder fins. The Rear Frame Number is stamped on the left side rear axel lug and should match the Upper Frame Number stamped on the left side of the steering head. The frame numbers will start with the Prefix R for Series B, RC for Series C, and RD for Series D. The Engine Case Matching Numberis stamped between the base of the cylinders on each side of the crankcase. This case matching number may also be stamped on the inside of the timing cover, primary cover, generator drive cover, clutch cover, and the kickstart cover. The frame number Suffix A = metric taper bearings in the front wheel only, B = rear wheel only or C = both wheels. The use of the Suffix D = ball bearings on the wheels and E = different locking mechanism. What does all this number information tell me ??
Suppose you have a Vincent motorcycle with the following (fictitious) numbers.. You have a 1949 Series "B" Vincent 1000cc twin cylinder Rapide motorcycle with all matching numbers.. !!
Note: The above example does Not exist. Why changing serial numbers or model identification does not succeed on a VincentVincents have a major advantage over all other motorcycles, namely: there are many cast, stamped, and documented numbers and sequences unique to each Vincent; there are experts in the VOC on casting changes throughout production, casting marks, and types of dies used to stamp numbers; and the VOC maintains extensive current Vincent ownership and factory records for positive authentication. You would have to be a total idiot to steal or try to fake the numbers on a Vincent. Ownership is obsessively documented and duplicate serial numbered bikes or "mystery" Vincents attract immediate attention as to authenticity, heritage, ownership, and legality.
Total Number of Post-War Vincents Produced...11,036This list does not totally agree with the August 2002 List..both extracted from official records. Vincent Motorcycle ShipmentsRecords are available for over 9,500 Vincents of the 11,036 produced.. The following countries received Vincent motorcycles at the quantities indicated:
White Shadows:As far as I can recall the 1A number was what the works came up with initially to distinguish a "tuned" Rapide motor in the very early days of postwar production. The early Surtee's motor that Jack raced with a chair with son John as the monkey was so numbered eventually Jack swapped it back to the Works who overhauled it and sent it out as new to the Cuban agent Jose Amat in 1947. This was an indication of how desperate they were to ship product constrained as they were by postwar shortages. This bike was later brought to the US when the Amat family fled Cuba in the Castro rise to power and at one time George Emmerich of Chicago owned it. Once the Black Shadow became a production item with the 1B designation a year or so later I would imagine that the works decided to number unpainted Shadows differently to distinguish between finish. As a Shadow was originally advertised as "Sports Rapide" later dropped from the ad copy having already used the 1A to denote a works tuned Rapide before the Shadow existed I suspect they just carried on using (1A) on unpainted Shadows. Why they built so many is an odd way of looking at it as 15 is hardly many. I would simply offer the reply, because the Works would build a customer whatever he wanted and if a buyer was particular enough to go to the bother of specifically requesting an unenameled Shadow they would only be too eager to accommodate. I don't know this but I suspect most of the "White Shadows " were UK destination machines. As the lengthy lead times with overseas orders would preclude most of that special order stuff excepting the odd Lightning and from tales I've heard about how long it took for the Works to deliver custom ordered Lightnings waits of a year plus an overseas customer wouldn't bother. Carleton 5/8/07
It appears that the man whose job it was at Stevenage to record production records was one of those who the Receiver made redundant in Dec 1954. This would explain why the works records that are now in Club hands, stop at /9999. So far I have traced and recorded nearly 90% of the machines produced after /10588 (not all are “D”’s, some are Series “C”’ twins, some are “C”/”D” Comets and there are two B/Lightning’s plus the Victor and the one genuine “D” Comet-some machines with interesting variations and histories). The last production bike was /11134 (Hills 04/19/01) Ex-Doobie Brothers Prince (F10AB/2B/11128):One of the few D's which was exported as a new machine, it went to Mathew Motors of Des Moines, Iowa. It moved around the States having at least three different owners until Pat Simmons (one of the Doobie Brothers) bought it in 1978. At this time it had only 5000 miles under it's belt and I would be surprised if it did many more while in the Doobie Bros ownership. It seems destined to be one of those bikes which is looked at rather than ridden! Dave Hills. Rare Vincents:The Meteors were few but more than one. It seems that I heard that there were 10 to 20 built but I don't know for sure. I've seen 3, had one in pieces. Only Gordon probably knows for sure. 2C Lightnings were made in 55, following the advent of diecast cases. The records here are a little sketchy in that the records for the diecast motors were lost. A new one surfaced about 3 years ago in the states. I included Lightnings in one cluster, otherwise one could argue 52 Lightning is rarer than a 53 because they only made 2.5 that year, etc. You could also get into HRD Lightnings VS sandcast Lightnings VS diecast Lightnings VS transition Lightnings VS Lightnings that went back to the factory and had the letters HRD removed (It was done to one). Shoot, each one was hand built anyway. I don't think any body would turn down one in favor of another. "Gee, thanks but I really had my heart set on a diecast Lightning". I've seen one totally original (as in untouched) Red Rapide. It even had red rubber tubes (I had to do that!). Actually they weren't completly red in that the Miller components other than the head light were usually left black. This usually included the the license plate bracket and speedo bracket. They seemed to be built in 2 batches. The first were with transition cases (HRD case with the HRD removed). These seem to be in the 27xx range of serial numbers. The second batch had Vincent embossed cases. These seemed to be in the 44xx range. I've had 3-4 go through my hands (Does that make me red handed ?!). They were not a success sales wise. Dealers would often paint them black upon removal from the crate! Somer Hooker 12/20/00 Comets:According to the works records the first Meteor left the factory December 29, 1948. By December 1949 they had delivered 63 Meteors, 123 Comets including the prototype and the prototype Flash plus one production one. Trevor 9/11/03 Approximately 16 Series "C" Red Comets were originally built. F5AB/2A/4084 left the factory for the US in June, 1950. (John Romano). F5AB/2A/4090 is also a Red Comet which left the factory June 3, 1950. (Jim Baltusnik 11/05) |
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