An interesting engine number....
- Thread starter John Smith-Daye
- Start date
It would seem that you have spotted a Grey Flash, genuine or not? I have no idea.
I get the joke now, I was trying to work out why the initials J S were stamped on the engine, now I know why.
There are several articles on this bike in MPH. See 178 and 179. Also: 271 and 355 cover. Derek Older got it from the scrap yard as I remember. When Derek died it went to a friend or family member. John Surtees did say it was his bike when Derek found it.
David
David
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So should I infer from that that even John Surtees rides a replica of his original Grey Flash which in itself was a special?
However in the eyes of the 'collectors' since I guess they both have non matching numbers they are worth nothing anyway
Tim,
I find this very interesting, although I am not sure why. I think it has to do with the fact that Surtees let his bike, 3520, go at some point. It was his father Jack who purchased the bike and it was painted silver and sported a big port head. Derek Older got it in the 60's from the breakers. But, Surtees purchased another Grey Flash and made it into a replica of 3520, so much so, that many believe that it was the original Flash that Jack ordered. I have seen photos of the replica bike with the numbers taped over in public.
As for numbers, 3520 should have matching numbers as it has become known in the Vincent vernacular. It is interesting to note that the original Grey Flash prototype, or at least one of them, ridden so often by George Brown had mis-matched frame numbers. Or should they be called perfectly matched number as they came from the Factory this way? I suspect this is why Phil Irving said something to the effect that the numbers do not mater if the part was made by the Factory, it is authentic.
Finally, the shear force of Surtees reputation and fame seem to have a cleansing effect on provenance, if not a superseding effect subsuming many facts. This is not a criticism of Mr. Surtees as he has always been forthcoming and generous to me. But, this is something bestowed upon him by others, much like the power of matching numbers is bestowed on Vincents by their owners. I suspect that if Mr. Surtees had made a replica of 3520 from a Comet, it might have the same value in the end.
David
David Bowen has tweaked me on the delivery of the bike which was to King's in Manchester and it was set up as a dual purpose machine. I was remembering that it was the only Flash delivered in silver which was the Jack Surtees team colours, but I may be assuming too much there also. This is the cover photo:
David
David