Beschreibung:

Dubbed 'Manx Grand Prix' in 1939, what would become the best-known racing motorcycle of all time had become simply 'Manx' when production resumed in 1946. Norton's over-the-counter Manx racers were much as their pre-war counterparts, with single-overhead-camshaft engine, 'square' cylinder head finning, upright gearbox and plunger-suspended 'garden gate' frames. Only the presence of the Roadholder telescopic front fork readily distinguished them from the '39 machines. 1949 brought the first significant change in engine specification, the Manx gaining a double-overhead-camshaft 'head like that enjoyed by the works bikes for many years, but the major development was the arrival of the Featherbed frame for 1951. The works' adoption of the McCandless-designed duplex-loop swinging-arm chassis the previous year had given the Nortons a welcome lease of life in Grand Prix racing, and Geoff Duke duly took both the 350 and 500cc world titles in 1951. The cycle parts remained essentially unchanged from then on, apart from the adoption of a double-sided, twin-leading-shoe front brake for 1962. Manx engine development though, continued steadily, latterly under Doug Hele's direction, until production ceased at the end of '62, among the most significant design changes being the adoption of 'square' bore and stroke dimensions for 1954 and coarser-pitch bevel teeth in 1957. The vicissitudes of racing being what they are – crashes, blow-ups, rebuilds, component swaps, etc – it is not at all surprising that so many old racing motorcycles no longer have their original engines, which makes this 'matching-numbers' Manx something of a rarity. This particular Manx was originally campaigned as part of the racing team run by the Belgian importer of the day, Auguste Goffin. A friend of Mr Goffin, the current owner purchased the Manx from him in 1969 and restored the bike to original specification in 1998, the engine being rebuilt by recognised specialist, Bernie Allen. Belt primary drive is the only modification notified. Offered with sundry restoration invoices, '62863' represents a rare opportunity to acquire matching-numbers Manx restored to concours standard.