Vincent Black Shadow Background Information

The famous Vincent Black Shadow had its roots in a small company established in 1924 by a well-known racer of the day by the name of Howard R. Davies.  While the company stayed afloat for only three years, the name was purchased by Philip Vincent, the young offspring of a South American cattle ranching family.

Vincent was educated in England, where he took up motorcycling about the same time Davies started his business.  By the time Davies went broke, Vincent found himself in a position, with help from family money, to acquire the HRD trademark, and embark on his own manufacturing enterprise.

Vincent hired an Australian engineer by the name of Philip Irving in 1931, and the groundwork for the Vincent V-twin engine was laid.  First came the single engine, 500cc Comet, followed by the A Series 1,000cc Rapide, often referred to as “the plumbers nightmare” because of its complex piping and tubing.  The B Series Rapide was next, followed by the Series C and Series D versions.

The Vincent Black Shadow was introduced in 1948, a year before Vincent dropped the HRD from its name to avoid confusion with Harley Davidson.  It differed from the Rapide in that it used hand-selected parts, had slightly higher compression, and was fitted with different Amal carburetors.

The Black Lightning was an all-out version of the Black Shadow.  It was substantially lighter, at 380 lbs.  It had strengthened internal engine parts, big intake ports, big carburetors, way higher compression, no lights, and a magneto ignition system.  The Vincent models were unique to the motorcycle world at the time.  They utilized the engine as a structural member of the frame, had a cantilever rear suspension, and of course, the illustrious 1,000cc V-twin engine in the Rapide and its sister models.

The company experienced severe financial losses in the early 1950s as a result of poor management decisions, and ceased operations in 1955.