1938 HRD Vincent series A Comet, 499 cc. The transformation ...

Hammer

£35,000

1938 HRD Vincent series A Comet, 499 cc. The transformation of Howard Raymond Davies's (ex TT winner who founded the firm in 1924) bankrupt, Wolverhampton-based, HRD motorcycle company in 1928 by Phillip Vincent into the makers of the then world's fastest motorcycle has been often told. Manufacturing at Stevenage started in 1930 and ran until 1935 using Vincent's own design of frame filled by JAP, Rudge-Python and even Villiers engines. The turning point for the fledgling company came late in 1935 when the last JAP engine was phased out and - unlike their rivals at Broughs - the first of the company's outstanding own-design ones were listed. 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. GUA was dispatched from the factory on the 4th June 1938 to a Mr Helliwell and the first name in the R.F.60 is John Turton of Leeds on the 7th of November that year. In January of 1958 it passed to George Bell of Farsley, Leeds although his brother Rowland is the next name with a stamp against it. The following year our vendor's father acquired it. From then on it remained in the family; our vendor inheriting it in 1984. It was ridden occasionally over the years and he restored it in 2011, gaining its MOT in that year. At some point in its life the original engine (C864) was exchanged for one from a machine dispatched from the factory on the 3rd June 1938 to a dealers Kings Motors (C589). The present gearbox (XBAPH 51896) is original to this engine as the inner casing of the oil pump (BD378). The outer casing is original to GAU (BD358). Ridden sparingly since, it is a remarkably original machine, with only a modern steering damper having been added to aid him in his later years and now, due his age it will be passed out of family ownership for the first time since 1959, after nearly 60 years. Sold with the R.F.60, V5, V5C, MOT from 2011, GUA should require little recommissioning to be used on the road again.