First Shadow
OK, Somer, the prototype Shadow.......was sold on from the works with the number JRO 102. Culver saw it lying at the back of Conway's shop in the mid-eighties, and (by implication in the magazine article) recognised the number,and offered £2300 for it. It was decidedly shabby, and at the time a conkers Vincent might fetch £2000. A few weeks later, he was told "OK".
I remember in 1974 or so talking to a Glasgow motorcycle dealer, Bill Fleming, who complained that he simply wasn't able to shift "these old bikes" and pointed to two Rapides he had, priced at £250.
All together now: "if I'd known then what I know now, I'd be wealthy beyond dreams of avarice." But I didn't, and didn't have £250 anyway, so I'm not. At least not in terms of increasingly worthless money.