1954 Norton 490cc ES2 Project
Registration no. KTH 510 (see text)
Frame no. J4 59862
Engine no. J4 59862

Introduced at the 1927 Motor Cycle Show, the ES2 sports roadster used the Model 18's overhead-valve engine in the cradle frame of the overhead-camshaft CS1, and from then onwards the 'ES2' designation was always applied to Norton's top-of-the-range overhead-valve single. The ES2 was built in several versions during a production run lasting until 1963, though the engine dimensions of 79x100mm bore/stroke - first adopted by James Landsdowne Norton in 1911 - remained unchanged to the end. Post-war developments included the adoption of an alloy cylinder head (1955), alternator electrics (1959) and the slim-line version of the race-developed Featherbed frame, which was introduced on the single-cylinder range for 1961. Production of all of Norton's traditional singles ended in 1963, though the 'ES2' designation was later applied to a re-badged Matchless. This matching-numbers Norton ES2 comes with its original old-style RF60 logbook showing that it was first registered by Eddie Stephens Motors in Carmarthen. Offered for restoration, the machine appears substantially complete, albeit finished in a rather unusual colour scheme for a Norton. It should be noted that the registration does not appear on the HPI database, having lapsed.