Vincent 3-wheeler

[highbury731]

Today I bought an old 'Classic Cars' magazine, dated October 1975. There's a picture (the faces are in deep shadow, but I think the central figure is Ted Davis) of the Vincent 3-wheeler taken by Jack Rance in 1955 at the Tempsford Speed Trials. The text below by Jonathan Wood says:

"In the second half of the original RGS Atalanta article, (Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, May) I made a passing reference to a three-wheeler incorporating an RGS front end which Dick Shattock built for Vincent around 1954. Powered by an 800cc (sic) Vincent engine the device did prove to be somewhat on the slow side! Dick recalled the three-wheeler being spirited off to the Vincent factory and was thought to have disappeared from view.

It was therefore a pleasant surprise to receive a letter from Jack Rance of Radlett, Herts, enclosing a photograph he took of this rare device. Can anyone shed any light on its fate, by the way?

He writes "the photo was taken by my ancient camera in 1955 Tempsford Speed Trials. All I remember is that the machine, which comprised the rear end of a Vincent Black Shadow mated to what I thought was a VW front axle arrived on Vincent works trade plates. I forgot what sort of performance it had.""

I had never heard how the 3-wheeler came to be built. Did Dick Shattock make it on comission or on spec? My recollection is that it belonged to Roy Harper for a while and is now owned by a well-known Hertfordshire Vincent specialist

Paul

 

[b'knighted]

See MPH 327 p15

 

[highbury731]

I think that was a wee while ago. Can you oblige?

 

[davidd]

David

 

[Simon Dinsdale]

The Vincent 3 wheeler still exists in the UK owned by a VOC member. Sorry but I won't give any names and hopefully nobody else will without the owners permission.

Simon

 

[b'knighted]

I want one!

 

[vibrac]

I saw it and sat in it when Roy harper owned it down on the south coast it is a deceptively easy construction the motive part and rear could be swapped out of a running bike (and back) in a weekend why anyone would bother is another matter

 

[ClassicBiker]

I can't recall which of the Vincent books I have, has a few pictures of this in it. But I always wondered how the engine was started, particularly if not used for racing. It always seemed a bit impractical to me to rely on a passenger or passerby for a push start and a bit awkward to have to lift the tail section every time. Plus what a bother if you stall at a light. But now with the all the electric start options available for twins I think it would make a neat little run about / sport racer. But I suppose the powers that be would have such a plethora of requirements before it would be allowed on the road, that it would never make even if built in kit form let alone standard production. Oh well, it's still pretty neat.
Steven

 

[timetraveller]

When Joe Karasek owned it he organised a long outrider shaft from the original kick starter shaft to come out of the rear bodywork behind the drivers seat. This made it possible to kick start the machine while standing along side it but still not a convenient thing to do if stalled in traffic. Joe also did the Silverstone High Speed Trials and several other competitive events with it. It was Joe who rescued the machine from total obscurity by writing to the Vincent Works to ask about it, ended up buying it and having the bodywork reconditioned.

 

[ClassicBiker]

I wonder how it compares to the F series Morgan three wheeler, produced between 1932 and 1952, as they are almost contemporary.
Perhaps if the current owner is here on the forum he will be kind enough to post a few current photos for us as there appears to be interest in it. If he isn't on the forum maybe someone in the know could ask if current photos could be posted, as long as the owner's privacy isn't compromised.
Here's hoping.
Steven