c.1952 Norton 350cc Manx Special
Frame no. 10M48

The early 1950s was an exciting time for 350/500 Class road racing. At the majority of British circuits results tended to be dominated by those riders fortunate enough to be mounted astride a brace of Manx Nortons, although it should be acknowledged that both the 7R AJS and KTT Velocette provided healthy opposition in the 350cc category. Later of course, with the arrival of Norton's famous Featherbed frame, the Manx undoubtedly went on to out-handle virtually all rivals, especially the multi-cylinder machinery that was beginning to appear from Italy and West Germany.

A typed note from the vendor's late father states he purchased the Norton in Wiltshire in 1976, at which time the bike was in Model 99 specification. He subsequently bought and fitted the existing camshaft engine, together with a quantity of other Manx parts. On file is a late 1970s invoice for an engine rebuild undertaken by Phil Kettle, who learned his craft while working for Francis Beart. Another note on file states how subsequent to that rebuild the machine did not undergo "any other use", and was kept in the owner's office. Applicable numbers for specific components are as follows: gearbox – 83070, rocker box – WM 409E5815, and forks - L3613. Effectively this visually attractive machine is best described as a Manx hybrid, but it is no less appealing for that.