1955 Norton 497cc Dominator 88
Registration no. MSV 354
Frame no. K122 62984 (see text)
Engine no. 62984 K122

• Delivered new in Birmingham
• Restored to original specification
• Wonderful condition

Norton jumped aboard the vertical-twin bandwagon in 1948 when it introduced the Model 7. Designed by the legendary Bert Hopwood, the new 500cc engine went into the existing ES2 plunger-frame/tele-fork cycle parts, a marriage that necessitated a redesign of Norton's well-proven four-speed gearbox.

Norton's 500cc twin found a new home in the racing singles' 'Featherbed' duplex frame in November 1951, having been previewed at the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen and also at the ISDT. Initially for export only, the newcomer - titled 'Dominator 88' - was the first production Norton roadster to feature the lightweight, race-proven chassis, although the road version used arc-welded mild-steel tubing rather than the sif-bronze welded high-tensile Reynolds 531 of the Manx. Shortened Roadholder forks were fitted at the front, while at the rear the swinging arm pivoted on Silentbloc bushes.

Updated year by year, the Dominator had received an alloy cylinder head, full-width hubs, welded rear sub-frame, alternator electrics and coil ignition by the decade's end and - for 1960 - the narrower 'slimline' Featherbed frame among countless other improvements. Motor Cycle magazine clocked 92mph on an '88' in 1957 and, needless to say, the handling and roadholding were found to be first class. In 1963 the standard model was discontinued leaving only the sporting 'SS' version, which remained in production until October 1966.

With its 'teardrop' silencers, aluminium-alloy cylinder head, 8" front brake, and rubber knee grips, this 1955 model is unquestionably one of the most handsome of the Dominator series. This particular Dominator 88 was sold new to one L White of Birmingham on 18th June 1955. In September 1988 the Norton was exported to South Africa and in 2005 was restored there by the current vendor's late father. The machine was inherited by his son in 2008 and brought back to the UK in April 2012. The export/import paperwork is on file and the machine also comes with old/current V5/V5C registration documents and a Norton Owners Club (copy) factory record. The latter notes that the frame number stamping is 'non original'.