S-21898-0-1

209Property of a deceased’s estate1947 Norton 490cc Model 30InternationalRegistration no. JKD 346Frame no. B11 8886Engine no. B11 8886Following its successful Senior TT-winning debut in 1927, theoverhead-camshaft Norton had enjoyed mixed fortunes in the Isleof Man. When the engine’s designer, Walter Moore, left to join NSU,Arthur Carroll was charged with carrying out an extensive redesign.First seen in the works racers in 1930, the new motor borrowedfeatures from the successful KTT Velocette, contriving to look verydifferent from its predecessor while remaining unmistakably Norton inexecution. The Carroll engine retained the classic 79x100mm bore/stroke dimensions and shaft-and-bevels cam drive of the Moore unitbut shifted the magneto drive to the right-hand end of the crankshaftwhere it was enclosed in a distinctive timing case. The new overheadcamracer was not an immediate success - 1930 was Rudge’syear in the Isle of Man - but came good in 1931 when works riderTim Hunt kick-started a four-year period of Norton TT dominationby winning both the Junior and Senior events. Towards the end of1930, the Carroll-type engine was introduced on the CS and CJ roadmodels, and in 1932 these were joined by a new sports roadster - the‘International’ - that bore a closer resemblance to the works racersand was equally at home on the racetrack.A ‘racer for the road’, the top-of-the-range ‘Inter’ was based on theworks machines but could be ordered with refinements such as lightsand a kickstart-equipped gearbox. By the time production halted in1939 the Inter was being built with four-speed foot-change gearbox andplunger rear suspension (the ‘Garden Gate’ frame), reappearing after thewar in similar guise save for the adoption of the hydraulically-dampedRoadholder front fork which replaced the pre-war girder. The modelreceived Norton’s race-developed Featherbed frame for 1953, an alloycylinder barrel/head and the new ‘laid down’ gearbox being adopted atthe same time. Expensive to make and challenged by cheaper paralleltwins of comparable performance, the Inter ceased to be cataloguedafter 1955 but could still be obtained to special order until 1958, many ofthe later machines incorporating Manx components.Fitted with a Manx cylinder head and quick-release fuel tank, this‘Garden Gate’ Inter was purchased by the vendor’s late father in 1968.Last taxed in 1998, ‘JKD 346’ will require re-commissioning beforereturning to the road and is sold strictly as viewed. The machine isoffered with old-style continuation logbook (part), three expired MoTcertificates, SORN paperwork and old/current V5/V5C documents.£9,000 - 12,000€11,000 - 15,00030 | the Autumn stafford sale