How to date a Vincent motorcycle with HRD Vincent production numbers.
The following information is presented as guidance only. The Vincent Owner’s Club Registrar is the best person to contact for detailed information. The Registrar will be able to cross-check your Vincent engine and frame numbers against factory records. The records are the definitive evidence on dating a Vincent motorcycle.
Many of us just want a quick way to show how to date a Vincent motorcycle. So, the following tables and information has been compiled so that you can quickly lookup your Vincent numbers.
Location of the engine and frame numbers.
Engine numbers:
If you are sitting on the motorcycle, the engine numbers are stamped into the crank case on the left side, just below the cylinder(s). In cases of Egli Vincent models, expect to see a second set of numbers above / below the Vincent engine number. See the page on Egli Vincent motorcycles.
Read all about Egli-Vincent motorcycles on this page.
The engine cases also have “mating” numbers stamped into them too. They have no bearing on date, year or model of Vincent motorcycle.
Mating numbers are a pair of stamped numbers that (usually) match. They are located on the crank cases. They are in any combination of letters and numbers. The purpose of the letters and numbers is to show that the two crank case halves are a matching pair from when they left the factory. The halves are machined so that they mate to each other as a pair.
- On the twin cylinder machines they are usually seen between the cylinders, and on both halves.
- On the single cylinder Vincents, the mating numbers are usually stamped behind the cylinder.
- This case mating number may also be stamped on the inside of the timing cover, primary cover, generator drive cover, clutch cover, and the kickstart cover
Frame numbers:
- The Rear Frame Member (RFM) number is stamped on the left side rear axle lug and should match the Upper Frame Member (UFM).
- The Upper Frame Member number stamped on the left side of the steering head. Vertical stamping.
How to date a Vincent motorcycle by knowing the Model by Series
Vincent motorcycles didn’t just produce a range of Models with different specifications. They opted to announce a range of upgrades to a model, by changing the Series. For example, the Vincent Rapide had four major changes and each Series had a letter, beginning with the Vincent Rapide Series A, through to Series D.
Here are the Vincent Models by Series:
| Series | Model Name | Identification letters / numbers |
|---|---|---|
| A | Meteor | M |
| A | Comet | C |
| A | Comet Special | TTC |
| A | TT Replica | TTR |
| A | Rapide | V |
| B or C | Rapide | F10AB/1/xxxx |
| C | White Shadow | F10AB/1A/xxxx ( UFM/RFM would be RCxxxxA ) |
| B or C | Black Shadow | F10AB/1B/xxxx |
| B | Meteor | F5AB/2/xxxx |
| C | Comet | F5AB/2A/xxxx |
| B or C | Black Lightning | F10AB/1C/xxxx |
| B or C | Grey Flash | F5AB/2B/xxxx |
| D | Comet | F5AB/3A/xxxxx |
| D | Rapide or Black Knight | F10AB/2/xxxxx |
| D | Black Shadow or Black Prince | F10AB/2B/xxxxx |
| D | Black Lightning | F10AB/2C /xxxxx |
As you can see from the table above, you can work out what Series and model the engine or frame belonged to. If you use the codes shown below, you can separate the details in the engine and frame numbers.
Vincent motorcycle Frame Number Prefix
R=Series ‘B’ Twin
R/1/=Series ‘B’ Meteor
RC=Series ‘C’ Twin
RC/1/=Series ‘C’ Comet
RC/1A/=Series ‘C’ Grey Flash
RD=Series ‘D’ Twin
RD/1/=Series ‘D’ Single
Frame Number Suffix
B=Black Shadow
/A=Metric taper wheel bearings (front wheel only)
/B=Metric taper wheel bearings (rear wheel only)
/C=Metric taper wheel bearings (both wheels)
/D=Ball wheel bearings with circlip
/E=Ball wheel bearings with lock rings
/F=Series ‘D’ Black Knight
B/F=Series ‘D’ Black Prince
Be careful. Do not confuse /B as a Black Shadow as it refers to wheel bearings. You can get B/B which is Black Shadow with metric bearings in the rear wheel only. Dating Vincent motorcycles by frame & engine numbers needs to be done with care.
How to date a Vincent motorcycle looking at production numbers by year.
Once you have established the Model, Series and any engine details, you can add to the detail by looking into the production numbers of each motorcycle model and series.
The table below gives you a guide on H.R.D. Vincent motorcycle production numbers by year. It’s a guide as opinions differ on the actual numbers. When you are trying to work out how to date a Vincent motorcycle, knowing the number of motorcycles of a particular type produced in each year helps with establishing evidence regarding your sequential numbers.
Matching a frame number to an engine number.
I am not sure when H.R.D. Vincent did this, but there is a well established “rule of thumb” that you add 1900 to the sequential number on the engine, to get the matching frame sequential number. Like all small motorcycle manufacturers, there are exceptions, but it is helpful.
Table of Post-War Vincent motorcycle production numbers by year and Series.
| Series | Year | Engine number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1946 | 3-19 | |
| B | 1947 | 20-400 | |
| B | 1948 | 401-1400 | |
| B | 1949 | 1401- 4980 | |
| B | 1950 | 4981-5730 | ** See note below the table |
| C | 1951 | 5731-8250 | |
| C | 1952 | 8251-9570 | |
| C | 1953 | 9571-10,000 | |
| C | 1954 | 10,001- 10,300 | |
| C | 1955 | 10,301- 10,587 | |
| D | 1955 | 10588 -11,134 |
** Note: 1950 was a “transition year’ when both B’s and C’s were available. Timing covers may have been HRD, Vincent, or polished smooth. Vincent embossed crankcases may have appeared as early as 1949 (F10AB/1/3090).
Numbers of H.R.D. Vincent Twins produced by Series, model and Year, including pre-war machines.
In your quest on how to date a Vincent motorcycle, it’s useful to know the numbers of machines produced. The following table is a guide as to how many Vincent’s were made in each year, by model and series.
As is the case with all of the information on here, it’s a GUIDE. There are known discrepancies. Where I know of the discrepancies, I have added a note.
| Series | Model | Number produced | First | last | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Rapide | 80 | Jan 1937 | July 1939 | |
| B | Rapide | 1847 | May 1946 | June 1950 | Discrepancy: First “B” Rapide Jan, 1947 with number R2002 |
| B | Shadow | 76 | Feb 1948 | May 1950 | Discrepancy: First “B” Shadow May, 1948 with number R/2PAB |
| B | Race bikes | No dates available | |||
| C | Rapide | 2758 | Dec 1948 | 1955 | Month end not known. Discrepancy: First “C” Rapide April, 1949 |
| C | Black Shadow | 1507 | Dec 1948 | 1955 | Month end not known. Discrepancy: First “C” Shadow April, 1949 |
| C | White Shadow | 15 | May 1949 | May 1952 | |
| C | Black Lightning | 1953 | Discrepancy: First “C” Lightning April, 1949 | One was made with a D engine. 1st Prototype 1948 as a B series | |
| D | Rapide | 151 | 1955 | ||
| D | Black Shadow | 144 | 1955 | ||
| D | Black Knght | 101 | 1955 | Discrepancy: First Black Knight Nov 1954 with number RD/12489 | |
| D | Black Prince | 132 | 1955 | Discrepancy: First Black Prince Nov 1954 with number RD/12493B |
Total number produced 6852
This page with information on how to date a Vincent motorcycle, is just a guide. There are many opinions. Even the factory records do not show the complete information. Out of the 11.036 Vincents made, they have records for just over 9,500.
However, the best policy is to join the Vincent Motorcycle Owner’s Club and the Registrar will cross-check your numbers with the records. Hopefully, your machine will be on the list.
