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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 were 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. In 1954, the engine was modified to the short-stroke form, the rear sub-frame was welded on and larger, twin leading-shoe front brakes were fitted. Modifications continued and by 1960 the Manx was approaching the peak of its design.

This replica of a 1961 Norton Manx 40M 350cc was constructed in 1998 in New Zealand by Steve Pallant using a McIntosh Manx replica frame, forks, oil tank and fasteners along with a Lyta fuel tank. The build featured crankcases and piston supplied by Summerfield Engineering of Derbyshire, UK, an Amal GP Race Carburettor, a PAL magneto, Newby clutch and belt drive, a Norton Manx gearbox with a Quaife five-speed conversion and Hunt brakes. Pallant raced it in New Zealand and Australia before selling it to four-time World Champion, Hugh Anderson, who sold it on in 2002 via a US auction to US collector, Jim Paqua. It was raced in the US by Matt Dawson and then stored for several years prior to a mechanical restoration by Willi Opplinger, a former Formula One mechanic and machinist.

It was purchased for the NZ Classic Motorcycles collection via a US auction house in August, 2012, and has since been raced in New Zealand classic motorcycle events at Ruapuna, Hampton Downs and Port Nelson.