1958 Norton 350cc Model 40 International
Registration no. RVA 251
Frame no. N10 77595
Engine no. N10 77595

One of the most charismatic model names in motorcycling history, 'International' was first used by Norton for its top-of-the-range sports roadster in 1932. The Inter's overhead-camshaft engine had been developed in the works racers for the preceding two years, and although it retained the classic 79x100mm bore/stroke dimensions and shaft-and-bevels cam drive of the existing CS1, was entirely new. Based on the works bikes and intended for racing, the International could nevertheless be ordered with refinements such as lights and a kick-starter equipped gearbox. By the time production halted in 1939 it was being built with a four-speed foot-change 'box and plunger rear suspension (the 'Garden Gate' frame), reappearing after the war in similar guise save for the adoption of the hydraulically-damped Roadholder front fork, which replaced the pre-war girder. The Inter remained fundamentally unchanged until 1953 when it gained the race-developed Featherbed frame, all-alloy engine and 'laid down' gearbox. Expensive to make and challenged by cheaper parallel twins of comparable performance, the Inter ceased to be catalogued after 1955 but could still be obtained to special order until 1958, many of these later machines incorporating Manx components.

A desirable matching-numbers example dating from 1958, this 350 Inter was one of three built on the last day of production for this model. The accompanying extract from the Works Record states, somewhat enigmatically, that it was destined for delivery to 'Alex Glas Potts'. First registered in Lanark, the Norton comes with its original old-style logbook listing four owners, the last being one William Allison of Armadale, West Lothian, who acquired it in August 1963. Owned for the majority of its life by the same individual, the machine was purchased from him by the current vendor in September 2007. Preserved in generally excellent original condition, this last-of-the-line International is offered with aforementioned documentation, recently expired MoT (June 2013) and Swansea V5C