Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tuesday 25th March from 1pm
Auction: Wednesday 26th March from 9am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
1970 Norton Commando Cafe Racer
No Reserve
Registration No: BYL 996H
Frame No: 138422
MOT: Exempt
Built in the period 1970s Commando 750 Cafe Racer
Recent £2400 overhaul with receipts and manuals
Owned by the vendor since 1978, supplied with a V5C
Norton was founded by James Lansdowne Norton in Birmingham in 1898 and began building motorcycles with French and Swiss engines in 1902. In 1907 a Norton with a Peugeot engine won the first Isle of Man TT race starting a long tradition of sporting excellence and the Commando launched in 1967 carried on this theme culminating in Peter Williams’ victory in the 1973 Formula 750 TT. The bike was first seen in 1967 at the Earls Court Show and the first production bikes were available in March 1968 initially with 750cc displacement, in 1973 it became an 850cc. During its ten years of production the Commando was popular all over the world, in the United Kingdom winning the Motor Cycle News "Machine of the Year" award for five successive years from 1968-1972. Around 60, 000 Commandos were made in total.
This Commando Cafe Racer, being offered at no reserve, was bought by the vendor in 1978 and ridden by him until 1986 before being stored away until 2000. Once out of hibernation, it was treated to an extensive rebuild keeping its original early 1970s Cafe Racer features. In September 2024 it was recommissioned by a retired Norton specialist at a cost of £2432 with a detailed break down of the job carried out and parts fitted supplied. This included a Pazon electronic ignition, new coils, new reg/ rec, a pair of Avon tyres and a rebore with new pistons and rings. A new metal race style petrol tank with a Monza cap was also fitted at this time to replace the original fibreglass one. The bike comes supplied with various receipts, manuals and a current V5C.
More images to follow.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
