The Vincent Rapide is a motorcycle designed and built at the Vincent works in Great North Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, during the Second World War and released to the press before end of hostilities. The prototype was the Series A 47.5° V-twin launched in 1936. With 6.8:1 compression, it produced 45 bhp (34 kW). It is often purported that Phil Irving was trying to find a replacement for the 500 cc Vincent Comet engine. There were two blueprints on his desk, and one had fallen on top of the other, to demonstrate a "V" formation. There is no evidence to prove this, however. Its frame incorporated the first cantilever rear suspension, used on all subsequent Vincents. Other innovations included a foot gearchange instead of a hand-operated gearlever, a four-speed gearbox instead of