Hi Brian,
We can see what your Dad paid at the end of 1950 but can you tell us what he got for it as a trade in on the C a couple of years later. Was the C bought new or second hand?
The C Rapide LBJ 324 was a 1951, so was also second-hand when dad bought it. No idea what he paid, but interestingly mum say that my elder sister Maureen and I both cried when he came home with new machine because we wanted the Series B HRD back !! So I exhibited good judgement even then !! Dad used to ride to work solo during the week, and Saturday morning he would reverse the rear wheel and insert a short length of chain he kept in the tool tray, and fit the chair for the weekend. I remember dad hammering across Bodmin Moor with his home-built double-adult sidecar hitched to the Rapide, me and sis inside and mum on pillion. I stood with my head in the slipstream, wearing a pair of dad's old goggles. The speedo read 93 mph !! He kept that bike until about 1960, I believe he got £45 trade-in against an Ariel Leader at Deeprose in Catford. If anyone knows the whereabouts of LBJ 324, please let me know !! Tried a 'where are you now' search in MPH a few years ago but no luck. The Series B is now powering a Norvin in Victoria.