VINCENT VAN GO
Sam’s a real artist when it comes to restoring Vincents. We paid a visit to his Colorado ‘studio’, littered with the materials to create as-new Black Shadows ....
Inside the fabulously old-school workshop of the Colorado man with a passion for anything and everything Vincent
Surrounded by rusty old pick-up trucks from the ’50s, Sam Manganaro’s garage looks like the set of a classic movie about Route 66. Except that we’re in Dolores, Colorado. The snow guarantees the place stays hidden away during the long winter months, while the sunny summer days see some traffic, with tourists stopping by, wondering what this shop actually sells. Through the dusty glass of the display window, they might be able to make out the silhouette of an old motorcycle and the ‘Vincent’ sign – something that will prompt a pang of excitement in those who know what it symbolises. If not, they’ll just pass on by – it’s just another hangout for a cranky hoarder.
For those who are captivated by what they see, and enter the door, it’s like diving into a hole chasing the white rabbit and discovering a classic bike wonderland. It’s a surreal place, as far removed from a modern ‘showroom’ as you’re likely to get. Under trophies and posters covering the walls, motorcycles of all brands and generations are packed together so tightly that it’s impossible to get one out without moving five others out of the way.
But the best is yet to come. Go through the office, past the prehistoric computer half-buried under piles of invoices and old magazines, and you reach the workshop. This parallel universe of parts, paraphernalia and work-in-progress motorcycles sucks you in and time just seems to melt away.
Thousands of components of all shapes, sizes and conditions cover virtually every inch of the expansive room. It’s a chaotic sight – like the aftermath of a toddler throwing a massive tantrum with his toybox. Disparate tools, cardboard boxes and plastic bags full of parts are randomly dispersed everywhere – it would take a dedicated team of automotive archaeologists weeks to sift through it all and identify everything. The walls seem to have absorbed decades of grease and old sump oil.
There’s enough bits and bobs to rebuild numerous engines and frames here – if only you know where to start. But of course, it’s Sam’s natural environment and obviously one he enjoys working in. As I enter the workshop, he emerges from behind a half-built motorcycle – a tall man with a big smile. And no wonder he’s smiling – not only is he enjoying his own personal space, undisturbed by the outside world, his business is booming, too.
So how did this American enthusiast become obsessed with British bikes? Well, it all started in 1990 on a road trip he took with some riding buddies on old British bikes. The engine of Sam’s bike was annoyingly unreliable during the first half of the trip, which meant the young rider had a choice: stop and give up or learn how to tune a carburettor. He opted to do the latter – and soon became addicted to understanding and solving the problems of old British bike engines, swapping tips with like-minded souls and connecting with a network of collectors. Although this was in
‘IT’S LIKE DISCOVERING A CLASSIC BIKE WONDERLAND’
the time while the internet was in its infancy, there was more than enough printed information available for a young mechanic to learn the secrets of the pros. Once he had learned the ropes, Sam decided to specialise in the restoration of the fastest British bikes from the 1920s to the mid-’50s, the time when a Vincent Rapide weighed the same as a Harley-davidson but had twice the power and a 110mph top speed.
Although Vincents had ceased to be ‘just old bikes’ for many years, they were really starting to climb in value, and customers started asking Sam to rebuild theirs. But the money side of things isn’t what inspires Sam – he’s a genuine enthusiast rather than a businessman. Instead of pushing himself to restore more and more bikes, Sam’s still working solo, at his own pace, taking his the time achieve the best results – and it’s a long and painstaking job to do a proper job on a Vincent V-twin.
“A complete restoration requires about 200 hours of hand work, equally balanced between engine and frame”, Sam explains. The engine is pulled apart and everything that’s serviceable will be refurbished if necessary and refitted. During the process, Sam makes some modifications to improve on the original design. Camshafts are replaced by those as used on the Vincent Lightning racing models. Brand new pistons are fitted and the ignition completely replaced – he can even fit electric starters, hidden behind the cylinders, for owners who struggle when it comes to kicking this beast of an engine into life.
With power upped to 70bhp, these restored bikes are faster than they were originally, so naturally Sam has to improve the brakes, too – the drums are upgraded with racing parts. The frame undergoes a full X-ray examination before being repainted and having the rear monoshock reinstalled. All this is time consuming, especially with parts coming from all over the world, and with a Vincent containing four times more parts in than a contemporary Norton, finding every one required to fully restore a bike is a logistical nightmare. It takes around 400 parts just to build one wheel – no wonder there are only three workshops restoring Vincent motorcycles in the whole of the USA.
Sam’s very proud of his restored Vincents, especially their rideability. “With their upgraded suspension, better brakes and dependable engines, these bikes are almost unbreakable. You can ride 400,000 miles with my Black Shadows”, he affirms. So it’s sad that very few of his customers are likely to take the time to
‘A RESTORATION REQUIRES ABOUT 200 HOURS OF HAND WORK’
actually ride their bikes once he’s put them back into tip-top roadworthy condition. “They miss the best part,” he says. “These Vincents are bikes that are really easy to ride. They are light, with a low centre of gravity, a lot of torque and rapid acceleration. And last, but not least, their V-twin sound is unique!”
Of course, there’s one big problem, as Sam explains. “To restore a Vincent today, you first have to find one, which is not that easy. In the USA, you’ll have to pay around $100,000 for it. With 200 hours of labour and the cost of all the parts, you’ll add $40,000 to the total.” That’s a big investment, but customers are still knocking at Sam’s door – and with the value of Vincents increasing seemingly endlessly, they can look like a better investment than the stock market.
But market fluctuations are not a concern for Sam – he can’t finish more than four bikes a year at his preferred rate of work. And he has no desire to work faster or increase productivity. “I’m doing everything myself. How can I teach someone everything he needs to know to restore these old bikes? It’s almost impossible. We’re the very last generation of mechanics who can actually do this. That’s why our job is important”.
Leaving Sam’s garage after my visit, I can’t get the image of the huge pile of nuts and bolts in his workshop out of my head. But after meeting him, I no longer think of it as a big mess. I learned that all these little metallic parts are like the gold coins in a huge treasure trove – the kind you could find in an Egyptian pyramid. And Sam is the Sphinx, the guardian of the secrets of an almost extinct history that he’s determined to keep alive...
‘WE’RE THE VERY LAST GENERATION OF MECHANICS WHO CAN DO THIS’
Special thanks to Sam Manganaro for his time and hospitality . It’s easy to contact him by email or phone: sam@vincentworks.com or +1 (540) 514-1013. Visit his website to see some of his restored Vincents: vincentworks.com