48th ABR Highlight – Vincent Rapide outfit

The largest gathering of British-built and British-branded motorcycles in the Southern Hemisphere, the annual All British Rally has been an institution for owners and enthusiasts of British motorcycles for almost fifty years. This year’s 48th edition of the All British Rally (ABR) once again turned the small central Victorian town of Newstead into a hive of new and old British two-wheel machinery.

Organised by the BSA Motorcycle Owner’s Association (BSAMOA), the ABR welcomes all motorcycles, scooters, outfits and trikes that are British made or have British heritage. That means BSA, Triumph, Norton, AJS, Velocette, Ariel and Matchless, as well as lesser-known marques and the latest Royal Enfields. The all-new BSAs made their Australian public debut at this year’s ABR, too.

Along with well-known volume marques, the ABR is also the place to spot premium Britlish motorcycle brands, like Brough Superior, Hesketh and Vincent. At the Maldon public display that’s part of the ABR itinerary, the Vincent Rapide outfit featured was photographed.

Vincent’s Black Shadow gets all the attention – and the highest prices at auction – but that model owes its existence to the Rapide.  Released in 1936, the Rapide was defined by a v-twin engine of 998cc capacity, designed by the legendary Phil Irving. Along with engine parts already developed for the Meteor single, the Rapide used a frame modified from the Comet sports single to reduce engineering costs. While designed primarily for sidecar use, the Rapide was also a fast solo.

Produced until 1955 across Series A, B, C and D versions, key changes for the Rapide and its offshoots that followed, like the famous Black Shadow, included the adoption of unit construction for the engine and gearbox, using the engine as a stressed frame member, and adding hydraulic damping – ‘Girdraulic’ in Vincent speak – to the girder fork front suspension. Vincents were notable for never adopting true telescopic forks, despite this suspension system becoming more widespread by the 1950s.

The Vincent Rapide featured is a Series D and comes from 1955, the final year for all Vincent production. It’s been fitted with a Watsonian GP700 sidecar that’s wide enough to fit two passengers plus luggage, both behind the passengers in an enclosed boot, and on an external rack.

For JUST BIKES’ report on the 48th All British Rally, click HERE