Description
H&H Classics Auction Wed, 20th Jul 2022 13:00 National Motorcycle Museum
1949 Norton Model 40 International
A genuine factory supplied Clubman International
Estimate £12, 000 - £14, 000
Registration No: LKO 308
Frame No: D1022102
Engine No: D1022102
CC: 350
MOT: Exempt
Factory supplied in Clubman spec. to be ridden by Bill Camier in the 1949 Clubman TT Race
Now restored, and engine rebuilt by George Cohen
The machine has seen very little use since. Matching original engine and frame numbers
Smiths speedometer and tachometer, road bias set up, and Brooklands exhaust
VMCC certificate authenticates the factory records
Rebuilt 350 single OHC Engine in a plunger frame, with road holder forks
Towards the end of 1930, the Arthur Carroll-designed overhead-camshaft engine was introduced on Norton's CS and CJ road models, and in 1932 these were joined by a new top-of-the-range sports roadster - the 'International' - that bore a closer resemblance to the works racers and was equally at home on the racetrack. Although based on the works racers, the 'Inter' could be ordered with refinements such as lights and a kickstart-equipped gearbox if the customer so desired. By the time production halted in 1939 the Inter was being built with four-speed foot-change gearbox and plunger rear suspension (the so-called '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.
This 1949 350cc 'Plunger' International was factory supplied in Clubman spec. Having spent many years in a leaking shed in Northumberland it was once raced by Bill Camier in the 1949 Isle of Man TT, indeed there are photographs that exist of him riding in practice. More recently, this Clubman spec. machine has been fully restored by Mike Pemberton and George Cohen. Now demonstrating a distinctly road bias set-up, this machine has a comfortable but sporty riding position demonstrated by the turned up bars and lack of 'bum-perch' seat. The elegant but rorty Brooklands exhaust can, rear-set footrests and lack of lights turn the balance back towards road racer. Regarding the engine, it was recently rebuilt by the aforementioned George Cohen and has covered less than 50 miles since the rebuild, this road test was an exploration of handling rather than outright speed. With matching original engine and frame numbers, this is a practical, sporty machine with a wealth of charm and character, the '49 Inter' is a real gem. There is a VMCC certificate of authenticity with regard to the factory records.
