Beschreibung:

This exciting Manx Norton, with its almost continuous racing history from new, first appears in the Norton records in 1954 as a machine directly supplied to South African Rudi Allison and maintained by Norton, a very great distinction from the more normal dealer-supplied Manx. Initially believed to have been supplied in standard form, 56733 had the first success of its long racing life when Allison rode it to fifth place in the 1954 Senior TT. Allison, a top rider in South Africa, had in fact, ‘split’ the works team of Amm, Brett and Keeler, though they were the riders named on the team prize. Further research might well reveal whether Allison’s machine had by this time been brought up to full, works, outside fly-wheel specification, as suggested by the result and by such fittings as the works-only tank and offside rear brake. As a result of this ride Rudi Allison secured full works rider status, though, in fact, this had been agreed before the TT, adding weight to the idea that 56733 was a full ‘works’ machine. Sadly, a crash in practice for the subsequent Ulster GP left Allison in hospital with spinal injuries, effectively ending his works career, though, happily, he later raced again in South Africa. The machine subsequently became, like most of its kind, another ‘ex-works’ Manx, and further research remains to be done on its history in the period between then and the point when it was acquired by the present owner. What is certain is that, in 1997, the original outside-flywheel engine was located, rebuilt to current 350cc specification at considerable expense by Andy Molnar, and then re-installed in the frame. After initial tests this very special 78mm x 73mm works engine (one of only a very few made - as outlined in Motor Cycle in May 1955), put out 49bhp. Since then, the racing career of 56733 is very well-known and documented. In common with the vendor’s other machines it has been maintained, regardless of expense, by the late Phil Kettle, yet retains its original appearance to a remarkable degree. It has also finished twice in the Manx Grand Prix and taken the Bonhams Lansdowne 350 Trophy twice, both in the hands of Andy Molnar. Most recently, in 2005, it took the 350 Lansdowne again, since when it has had a full overhaul and is now ready to go, following a 2006 appearance at Silverstone. A fascinating and highly-effective Manx Norton, 56733 represents far more than an investment in an interesting bike. It is a racer, and an exceptional one, in every sense of the word, with the potential to keep on winning in the increasingly prestigious events open to it. For the historically inclined, much research remains to be done, some of the most recent of which is being included in the information and tuning file with the machine, with more of the all-important ‘hands-on’ data available from the present owner.