1960 Norton Manx – Project Profile

A few of us have gone a bit ‘motorbikey’ this week here at Car & Classic, what with the TT in full swing and all. So, tying in nicely with our recent Isle of Man TT feature we thought we would present this 1960 Norton Manx as our Project Profile for the week. Fancy re-living Norton’s glory days of road racing success? Well then, look no further – this is definitely the bike for you.

Norton have a rich and distinguished history of racing accomplishments, beginning with that inaugural Isle of Man TT in 1907 when Rem Fowler rode his 5hp Peugeot-engined Norton to victory, setting a rather enviable trend for Norton machines in competition. But it wasn’t until 1946 that the first Manx model was built. A bike that was developed solely for the purpose of winning the Isle of Man TT.

It was a great motorcycle, make no mistake, but Norton really stepped things up in 1950 with the introduction of its new ‘Featherbed’ frame. Designed by motorcycle racers and engineers Rex and Cromie McCandless the frame was revolutionary at the time and allowed for a much more precise and better handling bike. The results spoke for themselves and following John Surtees and Geoff Duke’s successes at that year’s TT, as well as Duke’s world championship winning rides in both the 350 and 500cc classes two years later, the Norton Manx legend was immediately cemented and it remains a hugely influential motorbike to this day.

What is it? 

This particular bike is has been assembled from various parts but the two most important components are present: that legendary Featherbed frame and a race-prepped 500cc Norton EC2 pushrod engine. It also features Roadholder short forks up front containing Manx internals with chrome springs, bronze Manx swinging arm bushes & new rear shocks as well as front and rear brakes and a 5-gallon alloy tank. The bike also has two primary drive chain cases, one for running a standard chain and another for running a belt drive setup.

Why is it a project? 

We can see the potential here but the fact of the matter remains that this is essentially a giant 3D jigsaw. The bike has been loosely assembled for the purpose of the photos but will need to be properly put back together. The listing states that most of the parts required are present, including the major components.

Whilst the engine has been fully re-built and does run the rest of the bike, including the frame, will potentially require some form of refurbishment, depending on how far down the rabbit hole you decide to venture. There is a solid base here though to build something quite special and there is the possibility to put your own spin on proceedings, tailoring the bike to your requirements.

Five things to look for: 

1) Parts

The first job, as far as we’re concerned, would be to assess just what is included in the sale and what still needs to be procured. Yes, most of the major components are present, which is great, but what parts are still needed to actually get this bike back on the road or track? Try to ascertain if there will be any potential stumbling blocks when it comes to availability or compatibility. We know that the bike does need wheels so factor this into the price too.

2) Engine

Fully rebuilt and race-prepared by Pushrod Engineering the Norton EC2 single cylinder has quite the spec list. The listing details the ins and outs but it’s safe to say the engine has definitely been breathed on. The Gearbox has also been fully rebuilt and the vendor tells the bike has been successfully running for about 15 minutes. With that said it would pay to see the engine fire in person to visually check that everything is kosher. Also verify that there is a documented build sheet with receipts for parts and labour present.

3) Frame

Along with the engine the Featherbed frame is the pièce de résistance of this project. Visually inspect all of the welds and ensure there are no cracks or damage to any of the Reynolds steel tubing. The listing makes mention of refurbishing requirements so scrutinise the frame to asses the level of resto work required. Is it a full strip and re-spray or a more simple rub down and blow-over?

4) Ancillaries

As with the engine, make a comprehensive inspection of the brakes, suspension and gearbox. Does everything function as it should or is more work required to bring these components up to scratch? Anything that needs to be fixed or reconditioned will obviously increase the money you would need to spend getting the bike back to a rideable condition.

5) The Legal Stuff

The bike is obviously not road-registered and so the necessary steps would need to be taken to make sure all of the dots and crosses are accounted for but it’s a relatively straightforward process and the DVLA website contains all of the relevant information. Obviously this isn’t an issue if the intended purpose is a track bike.

What should you do with it? 

The way we see it your options are two-fold with this particular build. Turn it into a full on Norton Manx race replica and then actually track the thing or go down the café racer route. Norton were hugely influential in the café racer boom of the ’60s and the company continues to produce modern, ready-to-ride café racers, making this a perfect candidate for that particular aesthetic. Tracking it would be easier due to the registration process involved with putting the bike back on the road but making it into a punchy little street bike would arguably be cooler and allow for much more individuality.