Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tuesday 8th July from 1pm
Auction: Wednesday 9th July from 9am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
c. 1953 Norton Dominator Race Bike
Ideal restoration project
Estimate
£1, 500 - £2, 000
Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: Not visible
MOT: Exempt
Period 1950/ 60s 'Domiracer' style racer
Wideline Featherbed frame, Roadholder forks
Fitted with Alloy rims, race-style tank and seat
Norton was founded by James Lansdowne Norton in Birmingham in 1898 and began building motorcycles with French and Swiss engines in 1902. In 1907 a Norton with a Peugeot engine won the first Isle of Man TT race, starting a long tradition of sporting excellence. Developed for their Manx Norton race bikes, the legendary Featherbed frame eventually made its way onto the road in 1953 housing the 500cc twin cylinder engine in the Dominator 88. Further development increased the engine size to 600cc and then 650cc with the 'Dommie' range, especially once coupled with Norton's Roadholder forks, becoming the most sought after 'cafe racers' in the 1960s. Norton themselves developed a 'Domiracer' as an alternative to the more expensive Manx, spawning many homemade replicas in the 1950s and 1960s.
This Dominator race bike has been part of a small private collection for a number of years, unfortunately not much is known of its history. The frame number is not visible, but the engine number suggests it is based on a c. 1953 500cc model with a Wideline Featherbed frame and Roadholder forks. It is offered fitted with a long race-style fuel tank, short racing seat, central oil tank, alloy wheel rims and a Manx-style nose fairing. This bike will make an interesting restoration project as either a classic racer or possibly re-registered and put back on the road as cafe racer.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
