FT: Frame (Twin) Early Rapide Research: 1947

dave g6xnc

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The Motor Cycle magazine May 29, 1947
Is the engine number known on the Rapide tested in this issue of The Motor Cycle? Specifically the left and right side photos.
No water excluders, horizontal rear stand mount, Miller 42E, and simply the date will make this fairly low number Rapide.
Can anyone supply the engine numbers of any period photos (1947) of 47 B Rapides?
UK magazines, Australian mags, USA mags, German, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, etc?
Thanks
Craig
View attachment 1284
This was the first one made they got Aurther Bourne the then editor of the "Motor Cycle" magazine round to test it which is why many bits were missing and even the petrol tank was not even painted . PCV wrote that they wantd to announce it as soon as possible to start sales off of the new model. The "Motor Cycle " was one of the two most popular magazines at the time (I had it for many years) the only "rival" was
Motor Cycling" affectionatly known as the blue one and the green one and both went on until the seventies and read by all us "old uns"! (we wernt at the time!!) and far supassed anything around today. Read "Tails of the Snarling Beast by PCV for a real insight
into the launch of the bike.
Dave G6xnc (alias dave gs in another world!! ukgser!) PS some phots in PCV's original articals published in "motor cycle sport."
 
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craig

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This was the first one made they got Aurther Bourne the then editor of the "Motor Cycle" magazine round to test it which is why many bits were missing and even the petrol tank was not even painted . PCV wrote that they wantd to announce it as soon as possible to start sales off of the new model.
Dave G6xnc (alias dave gs in another world!! ukgser!) PS some phots in PCV's original articals published in "motor cycle sport."

Hi Dave, Thanks for your reply. I am not understanding your response about "missing bits" and "tank not painted"............as the Rapide in the photos of this May 47 article have nothing missing that i can see. Are you thinking of another earlier article? maybe 1946?
Best regards
Craig
May29_1947TheMotorCycleRtLarge.jpg
 
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Len Matthews

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Anyone out there able to post photos of the early B Rapides?

If you have a copy of "Vincent" by Duncan Wherrett (Osprey Classic Motorcycles ISBN 1-85532-330-3) the front cover and p.25 shows the sixteenth B Rapide built and the first released for sale in the UK. It was restored by Dave Quartermaine and still active with it's present owner.
 

dave g6xnc

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Yes, possibly the photo I'm refering to was the one of Arthur Bourne (the then editior of "The Motor Cycle") taking the first Rapide out of the works with a young PCV looking on what would be the very first test of the brand new machine. Famous picture it appeared in
"Tails of The Snarling Beast" by PCV amongst other articles.
 

bmetcalf

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If it is #5, it made its way to Argentina for Alex Noftsger to buy a few decades later. Any good rumors on who bought it from Alex's estate?
 
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