Believed to be one of the first Series A Rapides manufactured and potentially the last Vincent-HRD motorcycle to leave the factory in 1959, DUR 142 was used as a factory demonstrator, Vincent directors’ mount and road test star.
The machine will be offered for sale at Bonhams’ Summer Stafford Sale, on August 15/16, 2020, alongside the 40th International Classic MotorCycle Show.
Announced in 1936, and with a top speed of 110mph, the Series A Rapide was the fastest production vehicle when launched. Only 78 examples were manufactured, and approximately 50 are believed to survive.
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DUR 142 was retained by the factory as a demonstrator and for promotional purposes. Accordingly, it was loaned to Motor Cycling in April 1938. The machine was taken to Brooklands for speed tests and timed at 102mph.
DUR 142 reappeared in 1955, when Vincent-HRD production ceased, and Motor Cycling covered the sad event by testing the last machine off the line, together with DUR 142, which they described as ‘one of the first Series As’.
Bonhams’ Mark Garside – responsible for the motorcycle coming to auction – said:
“It is particularly gratifying to bring an historic machine such as DUR 142 back into public notice after over half a century of hibernation.
“Machines such as this come to market very rarely, and it has taken years of patience to successfully consign this particular motorcycle.”
Alongside the Vincent-HRD and the Morbidelli Collection, the Summer Stafford Sale will offer a superb range of prewar ‘golden era’ British motorcycles. Details at www.bonhams.com
Read more News and Features at www.classicmotorcyle.co.uk and in the June 2020 issue of The Classic Motorcycle – on sale now!
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