Norton Motorcycles Manx 30m 1952
In 1946, Norton produced new road-racing machines in time for the Manx Grand Prix of that year.
They were closely based on the pre-war road race bikes but the first to be known as Manx Nortons. The 348cc 40M and 498cc 30M singles featured a bevel-driven overhead camshaft with an Amal carburettor and a magneto. The frame was a cradle type with plunger rear suspension and Norton Roadholder front forks.
By 1950, the legendary Featherbed frame in its early form with a bolted-on rear sub-frame was commercially available and privateer racers began using it with great success after Norton took the first three places in both the Senior and Junior TT at the Isle of Man. In 1951, the Featherbed became standard on production Manx models.
This 1952 30M replica was part of the Bill Clarke collection in Christchurch, New Zealand. Its long-stroke motor had been in a Cooper Formula 3 race car and it was built up by Ken McIntosh and John Simpson using a McIntosh replica Norton Manx frame and running gear with motor parts supplied by Bill Clarke. It runs on methanol and was raced in New Zealand vintage events by four-time World Champion, Hugh Anderson.
It was acquired for the NZ Classic Motorcycles collection via a US auction house in August, 2011, and has since been raced and displayed at New Zealand classic motorcycle events in 2012 and 2013.