Charterhouse Auction Comet

Simon Dinsdale

VOC Machine Registrar
VOC Member
VOC Forum Moderator
Is anybody going to be attending the Charterhouse Auction at Sherborne, Dorset, UK on 5th October 2019 and willing to take photos of some numbers (engine number, UFM & RFM)? Charterhouse have a Comet restoration project for sale and this bike is a bit of an unknown. The only identifiable number at the moment is the crankcase mating number. See:


Thanks
Simon Dinsdale
 

Tony Wilkinson

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Is anybody going to be attending the Charterhouse Auction at Sherborne, Dorset, UK on 5th October 2019 and willing to take photos of some numbers (engine number, UFM & RFM)? Charterhouse have a Comet restoration project for sale and this bike is a bit of an unknown. The only identifiable number at the moment is the crankcase mating number. See:


Thanks
Simon Dinsdale
I saw this up for sale recently and phoned the owner to discuss it. It is really just a group of parts that have been collected over a period of time. I have restored dozens of bikes over the years and I would say this is not for the faint hearted. It will cost at least as much again as the purchase price for the restoration, even if you do much of the work yourself which is why I decided not to take it on. Good luck anyway if you want to have a go.
 
G

Graham Smith

Guest
Is anybody going to be attending the Charterhouse Auction at Sherborne, Dorset, UK on 5th October 2019 and willing to take photos of some numbers (engine number, UFM & RFM)? Charterhouse have a Comet restoration project for sale and this bike is a bit of an unknown. The only identifiable number at the moment is the crankcase mating number. See:


Thanks
Simon Dinsdale

Looks like a complete Shadow on the right?

B13798B8-0B81-4BE8-86C1-D768B6237853.png
 

BigEd

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
VOC Forum Moderator
I saw this up for sale recently and phoned the owner to discuss it. It is really just a group of parts that have been collected over a period of time. I have restored dozens of bikes over the years and I would say this is not for the faint hearted. It will cost at least as much again as the purchase price for the restoration, even if you do much of the work yourself which is why I decided not to take it on. Good luck anyway if you want to have a go.
For anyone contemplating entering the Vincent owning community, Tony makes some most relevant points.
My own experience was building a twin from a basket case but the considerations are the same or at least similar.
Some factors to consider:
  1. When do you hope to have something to ride? If you want to ride soon forget it and buy a complete bike if you have the budget.
  2. If you don't have the budget for a complete (and maybe even one in good running order) a basket case may be your most likely way to start and then buy parts as and when your budget allows. Before you decide to buy or not have a good look at the parts you are buying, preferably with someone who knows a bit about Vincent machines. In a pile, the main parts may be obvious to spot at a glance but some smaller parts are expensive to buy if you don't have them. (e.g. I saw two wheels at a glance, (both were rear wheels but I was later able to sell one to help to buy a front-wheel so that was OK.)
  3. If you have some mechanical / motorcycle experience you may be able to do most of the work yourself to save money but not time. You will learn a lot about the Vincent as you look through your bits and try to identify them from the MO parts drawings. Vincent machines have one or two quirks of design that you may not have come across.;) You can get useful information and advice at Vincent owner club nights, this forum, Vincent manuals and various other documentation.
I had other bikes to ride and so took around 3 years to collect/buy assemble parts but I tried to do something towards the project almost every or as often as possible, even if it was read a section of a manual. It is easy to lose interest with long projects and here the Vincent may not help as it is difficult a see a bike coming together as with no conventional frame you can't easily visualise it as motorcycle until you have an engine to hang all the bits on.
Don't give up if you get stuck, ask for help. Was it worth the wait? Yes, every time I take it for a ride.
 

Dave61

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
For anyone contemplating entering the Vincent owning community, Tony makes some most relevant points.
My own experience was building a twin from a basket case but the considerations are the same or at least similar.
Some factors to consider:
  1. When do you hope to have something to ride? If you want to ride soon forget it and buy a complete bike if you have the budget.
  2. If you don't have the budget for a complete (and maybe even one in good running order) a basket case may be your most likely way to start and then buy parts as and when your budget allows. Before you decide to buy or not have a good look at the parts you are buying, preferably with someone who knows a bit about Vincent machines. In a pile, the main parts may be obvious to spot at a glance but some smaller parts are expensive to buy if you don't have them. (e.g. I saw two wheels at a glance, (both were rear wheels but I was later able to sell one to help to buy a front-wheel so that was OK.)
  3. If you have some mechanical / motorcycle experience you may be able to do most of the work yourself to save money but not time. You will learn a lot about the Vincent as you look through your bits and try to identify them from the MO parts drawings. Vincent machines have one or two quirks of design that you may not have come across.;) You can get useful information and advice at Vincent owner club nights, this forum, Vincent manuals and various other documentation.
I had other bikes to ride and so took around 3 years to collect/buy assemble parts but I tried to do something towards the project almost every or as often as possible, even if it was read a section of a manual. It is easy to lose interest with long projects and here the Vincent may not help as it is difficult a see a bike coming together as with no conventional frame you can't easily visualise it as motorcycle until you have an engine to hang all the bits on.
Don't give up if you get stuck, ask for help. Was it worth the wait? Yes, every time I take it for a ride.
Very wise words Eddy,
Though I think I would have still bought ours even if I'd had the opinion of Derek Sayer that he gave me after the deed asking where various missing bits were & had I noticed I had an issue with the numbers.
When I hear back from the DVLA I'll know whether it was worth it.
Did yours in three years, you're like lightning compared to me !
Cheers
Dave
 

Upstreeter

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Yes but not for sale.
Indeed, my 'C' Shadow and Steib on tiny wheels.
I decided to sell the Comet stuff separately and have 2 satisfied customers for three of the items.
Just to clarify, I made it absolutely clear that this collection of parts was merely a starting point and that there would be a long and weary road to finally having a Comet on the road!
 
Top