Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 13:00
1948 Norton Big 4
Estimate
£4, 000 - £5, 000
Registration No: HWR 430
Frame No: C718183
MOT: Exempt
Matching numbers with a buff logbook
3 owners from new
An older restoration and a well looked after Big 4
The side-valve Norton Big 4, introduced for the 1947 model season, featured a 633cc engine, making it the largest post-war Norton single. Like the 16H, it was primarily designed for sidecar use. It employed Norton’s reliable ‘upright’ gearbox with foot operation, ensuring a positive gearchange and came with a single-sprung saddle. In 1949, the stroke was reduced to 113mm, resulting in a 597cc capacity. The ‘laid down’ gearbox was introduced in 1950. By 1951, a new 3. 5-gallon fuel tank, revised oil tank and alloy front brake plate were added. You only got the dual seat in 1953.
This early post-war Norton Big 4 has had three owners. Mr Frost owned it until 1977, when it was sold to Mr Diggens, who restored it (date unknown). The current vendor purchased it in 2017 and has evidently maintained it well. It includes many old MOT certificates, a current V5C, an old RF60 logbook and correspondence indicating it went to Switzerland with Mr Frost in 1949.
