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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: cliffrod on July 27, 2021, 06:44:26 PM

Title: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: cliffrod on July 27, 2021, 06:44:26 PM
My best friend and I decided long ago that if you can't afford to fix it, you can't afford to own it.  With that sage logic in mind, I haven't tried to contact this seller.

Even so, you don't see anything like this (real or otherwise) very often on c/l in the motorcycle parts section...

https://cleveland.craigslist.org/mpo/d/medina-1948-vincent/7354275198.html# (https://cleveland.craigslist.org/mpo/d/medina-1948-vincent/7354275198.html#)


(https://i.ibb.co/s2gQkDd/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/s2gQkDd)
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: LowRyter on July 27, 2021, 06:46:57 PM
Not for amateurs. 
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: guzzler on July 27, 2021, 06:51:33 PM
Yep
Bet that'll be cheap to sort out eh!
Cheers Guzzler
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: LowRyter on July 27, 2021, 06:53:49 PM
Someone will make a whole lot of money.  Someone else will lose their shirts.  If you always wanted one, money won't matter.   :bike-037:
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: Canuck750 on July 27, 2021, 10:36:55 PM
It could look like this with a little elbow grease and a couple buckets of money.

If there is ever a bike worth saving its a Vincent twin.

(https://i.postimg.cc/NfN7Vptv/Vincent-Series-B-Rapide-Right-Side.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: Mayor_of_BBQ on July 28, 2021, 07:23:12 AM
if you have to ask etc etc etc
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: s1120 on July 28, 2021, 07:28:01 AM
WOW!!  Suprised there are still ones like that laying around being how long they have brought big money!  She is a sad one for sure, but I hope someone makes something of it.
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: Dave Swanson on July 28, 2021, 07:30:57 AM
 I called.  30K as it sits!!!
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: jwinwi on July 28, 2021, 07:48:26 AM
I called.  30K as it sits!!!

WHOA NELLIE! Was thinking it *might* be worth buying even if left as is, but not at that price...
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: cliffrod on July 28, 2021, 11:05:34 AM
All ^^^^ true, but curious as to actual value & contemporary comps.  I bet it would have already sold (quickly) in $15k range and maybe even at $20k. 

Some things are more about opportunity than $$ because money regenerates and opportunities don't.  Around 90-91, an owner of one of the local HD repair shops went to FL iirc and bought a complete Crocker.  I never saw it personally but a close bike friend said it was "the rustiest piece of junk I've ever seen.  Not kidding- it looked like it had been buried at the beach for decades."  He and his father had a scrap yard, so that was quite a statement.  The purchase price was $7k way back then.  It sold quickly for $20k.

I'm also curious about the backstory on the Vincent.  That's an odd tank for most custom street stuff circa 1962.  Small narrow tank often means race plans or use.  Maybe it was just convenient for street use in lieu of a missing original tank, but I would doubt it.
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: tazio on July 28, 2021, 11:32:09 AM
Here's the one I noticed in the back of a well used pickup around 1983.
Wonder what he paid for it..
(https://i.ibb.co/wd1Lj3t/20200704-173004.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wd1Lj3t)
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: Tkelly on July 28, 2021, 11:55:42 AM
When finished the performance will be comparable to a 79 SP according to Peter Egan who tested both.
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: JJ on July 28, 2021, 12:01:59 PM
When finished the performance will be comparable to a 79 SP according to Peter Egan who tested both.

WOW!!  I would have thought a well sorted and tuned Vincent would have much more performance than that! :rolleyes: :shocked: :huh:

...and by the way, to restore that bike to its former glory would definitely take a LOT OF TIME, a lot of expertise....and BUCKETS and BUCKETS of money!! :rolleyes: :shocked:
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: PeteS on July 28, 2021, 12:30:57 PM
There was a local guy, now passed, who had somewhere between a dozen and twenty vintage Brit bikes all professionally restored. At one time he had a red Rapide and had to sell it unfinished because the cost of replacement parts were so exorbitant and that was about twenty years ago. I imagine it would cost well over six figures to bring this bike back to original. I think a Vincents forte was top speed rather than acceleration. Not unlike an 850 LeMans which I expect would have little trouble keeping up with a stock Shadow.

Pete
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: cliffrod on July 28, 2021, 12:32:57 PM
^^^Cliffrod, It's worth what someone will pay for it , not one penny more , or less .

Yup, auctioneers (got my license in 87...) understand that sentiment very well.  That's the whole point.

One article from years ago, probably either Classic Bike or The Classic Motorcycle in the 90's, listed various bikes by hp as designated by GB license/rider guidelines.  Using those ratings, a Vincent fell into the current (at that time) "beginner bike" classification.  The author commented how times changed perspectives of the legendary Superbike as now being considered to be of a suitable hp/perfomance level for a beginner.

There's a 48 Vincent just down the road at the local HD dealership.  They've had it for decades, at least 35 yrs.  It used to be just out on the floor behind a piece of rope at the old shop, corralled with a few other cool vintage bikes.  Right there to be touched and studied to your heart's content..  Very very cool. Now it and the others are high up on display, way up out of reach...  Not as cool.  So far, they've never considered selling it or pricing it.  I've tried more than once.
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: Dave Swanson on July 28, 2021, 01:01:45 PM
At a 30K starting point, but the time you fully sorted it to a decent Rapide level I am sure you would be well into Black Shadow territory price wise, but think of the satisfaction you can have saving it!   :laugh:
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: blackcat on July 28, 2021, 01:20:47 PM
I sent a message to Glenn Bewley who use to be on this list but now restores Vincents to hear what he has to say about this bike. I assume he already knows about it given the small world of Vincents.
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: JJ on July 28, 2021, 05:12:21 PM
A modern Honda Accord with the 2 liter motor is as fast as a big block Chevelle from 1968  :shocked: :laugh:

 Dusty

This may be true...but which of those two vehicles has the most...."character and soul?!?" :bow: :wink: :cool: :boozing:


(https://i.ibb.co/72XcNcD/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-3-10-44-PM.png) (https://ibb.co/72XcNcD)


Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: Rough Edge racing on July 28, 2021, 05:50:58 PM
There was a local guy, now passed, who had somewhere between a dozen and twenty vintage Brit bikes all professionally restored. At one time he had a red Rapide and had to sell it unfinished because the cost of replacement parts were so exorbitant and that was about twenty years ago. I imagine it would cost well over six figures to bring this bike back to original. I think a Vincents forte was top speed rather than acceleration. Not unlike an 850 LeMans which I expect would have little trouble keeping up with a stock Shadow.

Pete
Was that Carl who lived off Lake Road in Ontario?  Vincent performance was also compared to a 60's Sportster ..Speed, not the feel of the bike.
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: cliffrod on July 28, 2021, 07:55:59 PM
Ive been studying some- it looks like that's not a custom tank of some sort.  It's just the oil tank that resides underneath the fuel tank.  Is that correct?  I've never seen one with the fuel tank removed.


(https://i.ibb.co/dGpBjnY/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dGpBjnY)



(https://i.ibb.co/6yKJ6sC/image.png) (https://ibb.co/6yKJ6sC)


Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: PeteS on July 28, 2021, 08:31:37 PM
Was that Carl who lived off Lake Road in Ontario?  Vincent performance was also compared to a 60's Sportster ..Speed, not the feel of the bike.

Thats the guy. I think some of his bikes are still in the area. I know his 500 Goldstar and maybe A10 Spitfire Scrambler are.

Pete
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: JJ on July 29, 2021, 08:15:43 AM
A few recently SOLD Rapide's on BaT....(just for fun!) :wink: :thumb: :cool: :boozing: :smiley:


(https://i.ibb.co/WzhTgy9/Screen-Shot-2021-07-29-at-6-14-46-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/WzhTgy9)
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: jwinwi on July 29, 2021, 10:07:18 AM
A few recently SOLD Rapide's on BaT....(just for fun!) :wink: :thumb: :cool: :boozing: :smiley:


(https://i.ibb.co/WzhTgy9/Screen-Shot-2021-07-29-at-6-14-46-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/WzhTgy9)


And these examples only reinforce that the seller of the basket case does not have a working knowledge of reality  :boozing:
Looked at the results on BAT to make sure the 49 Rapide was a runner: Yup. Not exactly correct but a nice 'entry level' Vincent  :thumb:
Thank you JJ!
Title: Re: 1948 Vincent project on c/l
Post by: nc43bsa on July 29, 2021, 05:10:10 PM
A few recently SOLD Rapide's on BaT....(just for fun!) :wink: :thumb: :cool: :boozing: :smiley:


(https://i.ibb.co/WzhTgy9/Screen-Shot-2021-07-29-at-6-14-46-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/WzhTgy9)


At those prices . . .











I'll have one of each!     :grin: