Vincent Motorcycles

Vincent Engineers Ltd
Vincent Engineers (Stevenage) Ltd.
FormerlyVincent HRD
IndustryManufacturing and engineering
Founded1928
FounderPhilip Vincent
Defunct1959
FateBankrupt
SuccessorHarper Engineering (Stevenage)[1][2][3]
HeadquartersStevenage, Hertfordshire, England
Key people
ProductsMotorcycles, three-wheelers, pumps, amphibious vehicles, drones

Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. The business was established by Philip Vincent who bought an existing manufacturing name HRD, initially renaming it as Vincent HRD, producing his own motorcycles as HRD did previously with engines purchased as complete assemblies from other companies. From 1934, two new engines were developed as single cylinder in 500 cc and v-twin 1,000 cc capacities. Production grew from 1936, with the most-famous models being developed from the original designs after the War period in the late 1940s.[7]

The 1948 Vincent Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle.[8] The name was changed to Vincent Engineers (Stevenage) Ltd. in 1952 after financial losses were experienced when releasing capital to produce a Vincent-engined prototype Indian (Vindian) for the US market during 1949.[7] In 1955 the company discontinued motorcycle production after experiencing further heavy financial losses.

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mechanics2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Timeline2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Holliday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Holliday2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Timeline4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Classic Bike, September 2002, The Vincent Story – Timeline, by Dave Minton, pp.27–31 Accessed 17 September 2014
  8. ^ Ward, Ian (1987). Great British Bikes. Macdonald & Co. ISBN 978-0-7481-0020-0.