Vincent Black Shadow and C bikes having 1⅛" Amal 289 carburettors and Series D bikes having 1⅛" Amal Type 389/10 units. While other contemporary motorcycles tended to be polished and chromed, founder Philip Conrad Vincent (PCV) decreed that the Black Shadow engine itself be black. The engine's signature colour was achieved by applying a "pyluminising" coating of chromate anti-corrosion primer over which a layer of Pinchin & Johnson black enamel was added. The part was then baked in an oven for 2 hours at . Although some have claimed that the black finish increased the rate of heat rejection from the engine, its
HMS Black Prince (81) the modernisation had to be cancelled, and "Black Prince" was placed in reserve until 1953. She returned to service after refitting with simplified secondary armament with a single quad pom pom in Q position and 8 x 1 Mk3 40mm electric Bofors guns. The ship was decommissioned again two years later, and returned to the Royal Navy in 1961. "Black Prince" did not re-enter service, and was towed from Auckland to the Osaka breakage yards for scrapping in 1962. "Black Prince" was a modified "Dido" design, sometimes called "Dido" Group 2, or the "Bellona" subgroup with only four 5.25-inch mounts