Description
ESTIMATE: AUD $28, 000 - $36, 000
Offered by Donington Auctions - Collector Motorcycle & Car Auction - Featuring the Private Museum of Racing Driver Bryan Thomson - Sydney NSW June 20th 2pm AEST.
1949 NORTON 490CC MODEL 30 INTERNATIONAL 'BARN FIND'
Production version of the legendary Manx Norton
Offered by the family of the Late Robert McLennan
Frame No: E10 29060
Engine No.: D11 21093
First introduced in 1932, the overhead camshaft Norton International was initially similar in specification to the works racers of the previous year. The Model 30 was 500cc and the Model 40 350cc, and they were primarily expensive competition machines. The International was available in a variety of options; from fast roadster to out and out road racer.
In the immediate post-war period, the racing specification Model 30 and 40 became the M (Manx), but the International continued much as before, and replaced the CS1 and CJ as Norton’s top of the range production road model. The rugged Arthur Carroll-designed single cylinder engine included a single overhead camshaft driven by a vertical shaft and bevel gears. The International engine looked very similar to the Manx, but retained the earlier iron cylinders and cylinder head on an aluminium crankcase. The hairpin valve springs were exposed, the inlet port downdraft and the foot-operated gearbox four-speed. To accommodate the low octane post-war pool petrol the long-stroke 500 (79x100mm) had a low 7. 23:1 compression ratio, and with an Amal TT 1 5/ 32-inch carburettor produced a modest 29 horsepower at 5, 500 rpm. The chassis for both the post-war International and Manx included a full cradle “garden-gate” type frame with plunger rear suspension and Norton’s hydraulically-damped Roadholder telescopic fork. Unlike other production Nortons at the time both the International and Manx also ran on 21 and 20-inch wheels. But while the Manx received a larger conical 8-inch front brake the Internationals managed with the standard 7-inch units. Although the International wasn’t as powerful as a Manx and weighed a considerable 177kg it was also an extremely successful racer. From 1947 Internationals dominated the Clubman’s TT at the Isle of Man, and in 1949 future World Champion Geoff Duke won the Senior Clubman’s TT on a Model 30. The International continued basically unchanged until 1953 when it adopted the swingarm Featherbed frame and an alloy cylinder head and barrel as standard.
As it was always expensive and manufactured in small numbers, the International Model 30, particularly the earlier “garden-gate” frame version, is quite rare today. This example has the correct engine number for a 1949 Model 30. The frame appears to be from a 1950 350cc Model 40 and carries an E10 prefix and a different number to the engine. Offered in unrestored condition this Norton International is unique and represents a wonderful opportunity for the astute collector. This motorcycle is sold unregistered.
