This page shows pictures of Nortons and Vincent's belonging to customers ana visitors to the website.
To look at a bigger version of each photograph, click on the photo.
If you would like your Norton single or Vincent to appear in this gallery then please submit your photos to paul.norman@racingvincent.co.uk
Photos should be sent in .jpg or .jpeg format, and be no larger than 800 x 600 pixels in size (max of 4 photos), Preferably one timing side and one drive side. Also include a short narrative of the bikes background if you can, as this would be useful for other readers
Andy's Inter looking really nice after restoration - engine is early, pre-magnesium racing engine in a flat cradle frame
Otto has been a customer almost since I first stared making parts and is serious about his own Nortons. Here he can be seen looking fast at the Austrian Schwanendstadt circuit
Heinz is another regular customer who has been restoring his first International for some time. This photograph was taken at its first run - and Heinz reported that although it could not be seen in the photograph, he had a grin from ear to ear - good stuff!
John sent me these photographs in late 2012, of a '52 Clubmans Inter he is restoring. I think they are great because at this stage the bike looks wonderfully original and unmolested - notice for instance the old and cracking cloth control cables - always a good sign the bike is in its original state. However, what I find most interesting about this bike is - although it looks initially like a standard early '50's Gardengate Inter, when you look closely you can see it has a bolt-thru Clubmans petrol tank, and even more unusual - it has a hybred Inter/Manx type frame - using the alloy Manx style front tank bridge, but Inter style rear mount and front engine lug to take Inter aluminium engine. then when you look really closely (the toolbox picture), you see the rear plunger casting lugs are 'wasted' where the seat tubes braze in, a feature Norton's occasionally did at that time with Manx racing frames. Interesting Stuff. Therefore, these photographs represent to me a lovely 'time warp' picture of what a genuine Clubmans spec bike should look like. Hope the restoration is going well John! (remember to click on photos for larger version)
John's lovely 1952 Norton International Clubman's. At this stage unrestored, but lovely and original. Othe than missing front mudguard, everything looks correct
These two photographs give a wealth of information for the restorer - note the following: Manx style front tank mount. Inter style rear tank mount. Correct long neck (Norton type) alloy TT carb, magnesium cambox on alloy head. Lozenge type upright gearbox (the flat gearbox being used by this time for other models). I think the crankcases are painted silver . .. which was sometimes done this time on magnesium Manx crankcases as well. Placement of original oil pipes. Normal front placement footpegs used (although longer than ES2/16H type). Notice also, Inter tank is welded by this time, not scolloped. Wonderful stuff if you like originality
Reijo's early (Longstroke) DOHC Featherbed Manx. Notice at this time, the early DOHC Featherbed engines shared some parts with the last of the Gardengate Manx engines - heads and vertical bevel castings were the same castings over both - based on the similar SOHC square head. You can just see the Featherbed fuel tank does not have a cutaway at the back for carburettor bellmouth clearance - later Manx's did - just one of the many subtle differences over the years.
Ken Watsons 1932 Inter looks lovely and is in racing trim. It is fitted with Manx gearbox and a later RN type racing carb, but look carefully and you see it it is fitted with correct type 'flat cradle' rigid frame
Engine shots shows lovely bronze head - predecessor to the later alloy/bronze racing heads that followed on racing versions
Kim tells me when he bought the bike it had been raced, and is now being rebuilt as a road sports Inter, very indicative of the 1930's. Kim is doing a really nice job of it, but is not a purist and does not mind not being absolutely original - he has had (very nice) tanks made, and has fitted a bigger BSA front brake. The engine is a later 1952 engine (rebuilt by old mate George Cohen). In Kim's words - 'I eschew the rivet counters as I would a rabid dog', and those are sentiments I would totally agree with! He also admits to having fitted a few of my parts - thanks for that Kim!
Kim's 1930's Inter looking really smart. Bike is basically 1930's, but is fitted with later all alloy 1952 engine. Tanks are very nice and Kim had these made to replace CS1 style tanks it originally came with
Restored forks and clocks on the left - and I think are fitted with a set of our 'parrallel' checksprings. Photo on the right shows the bike as Kim purchased it back in 1972, and Kim said in this state it had just been successfully raced at Weston beach. Notice that frame looks like the earlier 'flat pan' cradle type
Dirk is another regular customer and owns these two lovely SOHC Nortons.
I particularly like the 1935 CS1, simply because it is very rare to see a CS1 so beautifully restored to its original specification, many people preferring to restore them to an International lookalike. This particular restoration is examplary and a testament to Dirk's skills - I love the tank which looks spot on with the lining.
His other bike is a 1932 (flat pan) chassis, but with a later 1936 350cc magnesium (M30 - Racing Internal/early Manx) engine fitted - I also have a magnesium 350 engine of the same year, I think this is only the second year they were made. Dirk tells me the chassis has also had its cradle lightened, and a later 'sprung' rear end fitted - a common mod in the post war period, to keep the bikes competitive longer. Both lovely bikes.
1935 Norton CS1 : Dirk's example of this less known example of the SOHC lineage is beautifully restore and a very original example. This model was effectively the same specificiation as the ES2, but with a (none downdraught) SOHC engine fitted. The bike was originally sold to Sweden, baught by Dirk as a basket case from Finland in 2004
Dirk's second bike is technically very intersting. The frame started life as an early 1932 flat pan (the cradle under the engine) rigid frame - which Dirk tells us has had additional lightening to reduce weight, but someone later added plunger suspension - a common mod immediately post war. The engine is a 1936 M40 magnesium racing engine. Dirk says the bike was purchased from the Netherlands as a basket case, and supposedly originally competed in the first Dutch (Assen) TT, although he has not been able to verify this.
Other technically interesting points to note are the (homemade?) undamped tele forks, presumably added at the same time as the plungers, the 'crafted' rear mudguard (also typical of the period when plungers were being fitted), and the very early oil tank, which has a cutaway on the timing side for the 'Thatched Roof' style early upright Norton gearbox, with pressed tin selector mechanism cover. I suspect these two last features may be original to the frame. I also like the front headlamp, which also looks period to the 1930's. Really nice and interesting bike Dirk!
Fred purchased the bike in August 2007 and has been restoring it since. He is now puzzling around the valve/rocker geaometry ( a problem we all have, best of luck Fred!) and is hoping to have the bike complete in March 2014.
Here is Fred's Featherbed Inter as purchased in 2007 - very original - but looking unloved and ripe for restoration. Like the seat and rear end, all oriignal
And the same bike showing the restored chassis and engine in various states of build. I love the Polychromatic Grey paintwork, looks great.
Restorer's of Featherbed Inter's should also note the engine plate configuration (unfortunately I do not supply these - although if anyone has a set they can draw around, I will get them lasercut. Note also that the crankcase drive side sump boss is blank on this postwar engine - pre-war versions often used that boss as the main drain point.
Engine was full alloy on the Featherbed Inter. You can also see the cambox is a magnesium (Manx) version. I was told that this was probably because the production Manx had gone over to DOHC by that time - and Norton's had to get rid of those SOHC cambox's they had left on the shelf! Not sure if that is true . . . but sounds plausible. Notice also correct long neck TT carburettor
This is my "Norton Inter Project" and i hope that will be ready in 2014 ..... (just a few details - Kickstarter mechanism, electric ... ) ... for your customer bike gallery ....
Norton International M30, 500 cc OHC, big plunger frame, with some original racing parts (front hub, racing handlebars, oil-tank)
Despatched 02. April 1938 to Norton's Italian agent "Mototecnica"
Matching Numbers (Norton Despatch Records 1938) for frame, engine, gearbox, girder fork
Original Wheel front 21" / Wheel rear 20"
Original Amal TT Carburetor available - now run in everyday witch a Amal Concentric 930
Engine is aluminium crankcase International (not magnesium), but is fitted with conical front brake and full wrapround racing specificatin oil tank.. Although this early 'Big Plunger' sprunt chassis was only made in small numbers - it was actually made available for magnesium engines (higher front lug), alloy crankcase cammy engines and a few were also made for ES2's (although I have never seen one of these
Bike looks very original and beautifully restored. I particularly like the mudguarads and stays that look original Norton and of course that lovely 'Big Plunger' chassis
A few pics of my 500 Manx its a 1946 SOHC long stroke with Steve Lancfield crankcases stamped SL10 the frame is a 1960 genuine manx frame ex Alan Trow
Colin's Featherbed looks nice and it is not immediately obvious that the engine is earlier than the frame. Oil tank, gearbox and front brake are all of mid 1950's DOHC Manx period. I particularly like the petrol tank which looks to be a large capacity version (possibly TT). Colin is shown on bike at !000 Bike Festival
Brigitte and her husband Corn have recently purchased this lovely unrestored Norton CS1, and again, I love it because an original late 1930's CS1 is very uncommon to see.
Brigitte says "The cs1 is from 1937 and has 500 cc; I bought it in south-england over ebay this summer (2013).
We want to restore it “soft”; I think you call that oily rag restauration? I mean it should run really good and look as much as possible as it looked when we bought it (a little bit cleaner would be good).
My husband Heribert (Corn) and I are a little bit clumsy in finding parts (which should be old and original,because we can`t put new shiny things on the bike)".
Hope the 'oily rag' restoration goes well Brigitte!
Top: Nice picture of Brigitte with her very extremely original and unrestored/unmolested 1937 CS1.
Bottom: Close up of CS1 engine side - spot all the subtle differences between an Inter and a CS1 - even down to the barrel/head fins which are less pronounced
Anotonio's Featherbed International looks very original, apart from the primary chaincase. Note full width front hub, late style headlamp and sidestand mounting