S-22720-0-1

314Property of a deceased’s estatec.1946 Norton 490ccManx Racing MotorcycleRegistration no. VSV 907Frame no. 15876 (see text)Engine no. E11M 31772Dubbed ‘Manx Grand Prix’ in 1939, what would become the bestknownracing motorcycle of all time had become simply ‘Manx’ whenproduction resumed in 1946. Norton’s over-the-counter Manx racerswere much the same as their pre-war counterparts, with singleoverhead-camshaftengine, ‘square’ cylinder head finning, uprightgearbox and plunger-suspended ‘garden gate’ frames. Only thepresence of the Roadholder telescopic front fork readily distinguishedthem from the ‘39 machines. 1949 brought the first significantchange in engine specification, the Manx gaining a double-overheadcamshaft‘head like that enjoyed by the works bikes for many years,but the major development was the arrival of the Featherbed framefor 1951. The works’ adoption of the McCandless-designed duplexloopswinging-arm chassis the previous year had given the Nortons anew lease of life in Grand Prix racing, and Geoff Duke duly took boththe 350 and 500cc world titles in 1951. The cycle parts remainedessentially unchanged from then on apart from the adoption of adouble-sided, twin-leading-shoe front brake for 1962. Manx enginedevelopment though, continued steadily, latterly under Doug Hele’sdirection, until production ceased at the end of ‘62, among the mostsignificant design changes being the adoption of ‘square’ bore andstroke dimensions for 1954 and coarser-pitch bevel teeth in 1957.This ‘garden gate’ Manx was registered by the late owner withits current number on 21st April 1987. We are advised that theengine has been fully rebuilt with new main and big-end bearings,new Carrillo con-rod, and new piston valves and guides. Theaccompanying history file contains a quantity of MoT certificates(most recent expired August 2013), SORN paperwork, technicaldrawings, an original maintenance manual, technical drawings,assorted Manx-related literature and old/current V5/V5C registrationdocuments. It should be noted that the frame has been stampedin three different locations with numbers of varying clarity. Withcorresponding approximate manufacturing dates (in brackets) theyare: ‘13166’ (1947), ‘15876’ (1948) and ‘40M 5536’ (1945), the lasttwo being recorded as the VIN number in the V5C. If genuine, the‘40M’ stamping indicates this motorcycle was built as a Model 40(350cc) Manx, while the engine number ‘E11M 31772’ indicates thatthis engine is a 490cc (Model 30) unit dating from 1950.£10,000 - 14,000€14,000 - 20,000Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each lotprior to bidding. All lots are sold “as is/where is” with all defects and faults.motorcycles | 99