Lot details Registration No: VAS 860 Frame No: RC12453C Engine No: F10ABIB10553 cc: 1000
When first road tested by the press in May 1948, Vincent's Black Shadow was clocked at top speeds up 128mph. Further modified from the already extremely rapid Rapide specification, the 55bhp Black Shadow motor had larger carburettors, raised compression ratio and some internal bits polished.
Black Shadow 998cc vee-twin engines were finished in black enameland the brake drums were ribbed for better heavy dissipation following braking from what were for the times extremely high speeds - a 5ins diameter speedo calibrated to 150mph enabled Black Shadow riders to better monitor their mph.
In 1948, at the record breaking mecca of the Bonneville salt flats in the US, a clearly extremely intrepid - if not more than a tad foolhardy - 'Rollie Free' stripped down to just his swimming trucks and shoes to achieve a storming 150.313mph on a Vincent Black Shadow and establish a new world record for unsupercharged motorcycles!
We understand that this particular example, which was hand-built and finished in model defining black by Vincents of Stevenage in 1954, was in last ownership for over thirty years. Apart from there being a V5 registration document confirming the current VAS 960 registration, the documents file is also likely to include lots of expired MOTs.
Claimed to be all correct, this fabulous British classic 1000, which most aficionados would argue is the ultimate machine to have in your collection, just needs to be confronted with some open road where it can be opened up and truly enjoyed as the makers intended.
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