Ultra Rare Factory One-Off Indian-Vincent Prototype to be Offered

Reader Contribution by Press Release
Published on December 22, 2016
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Bonhams is very pleased to announce the consignment of a very rare and historically significant motorcycle: the 1949 Indian-Vincent Factory Prototype.

In 1948 the manager of Indian Motorcycles, Ralph Rogers, and the director of Vincent HRD, Philip Vincent, agreed on a joint venture to manufacture and sell a hybridization of their machines to the American market. Two prototypes were created as a result: the better known Vindian — essentially an Indian Chief with Vincent motor, and the Indian-Vincent — essentially a specially badged Vincent Rapide with some Indian components.

Both machines were one-off designs created at Vincent’s factory in Stevenage, England, from two Chiefs shipped over from Indian’s Springfield, Massachusetts, factory. Unfortunately, neither prototype was put into production before Indian’s demise just a few years later.

The singular Indian-Vincent was the exceptionally fast and desirable Series C Rapide with a few Indian components aimed at U.S. riders, such as high handlebars, additional lights, crashbars and converted left-side gearshift. The prototype was personally taken by Phil Vincent later that year to Australia, where it has remained most its life.

Now this genuine, fully VOC-documented, one-of-one motorcycle representing two of the greatest names in motorcycling history will be offered for the first time at public auction. It carries an estimate of $250,000-$300,000.

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