Lot 135
1949 Norton ES2 Engine no. D4 20746
Collectors' Motorcycles and Motorcars at the Barber Museum|10 October 2020, 13:00 CDT|Birmingham, Barber Motorsports Museum
1949 Norton ES2
Engine no. D4 20746
Engine no. D4 20746
· Beautiful ES2 example
· From a private museum-like collection
Previewing at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.
Introduced at the 1927 Motor Cycle Show, the ES2 sports roadster used the Model 18's overhead-valve engine in the cradle frame of the overhead-camshaft CS1, and from then onwards the 'ES2' designation was always applied to Norton's top-of-the-range, overhead-valve single. The ES2 was built in several versions during a production run lasting until 1963, though the engine dimensions of 79x100mm bore/stroke - first adopted by James Lansdowne Norton in 1911 - remained unchanged to the end. Post-war developments included the adoption of Roadholder telescopic forks (1947), an alloy cylinder head (1955), alternator electrics (1959) and the slimline version of the race-developed Featherbed frame, introduced on the single-cylinder range for 1961. Production of all of Norton's traditional singles ended in 1963, though the 'ES2' model name lived on until 1966, in its latter years referring to AMC's Matchless G80, which was contentiously re-badged as a Norton.
This Norton ES2 has been consigned from a well-known private collection in the NE. The bike was housed in a private Museum type setting along with a stable of historic single-seater race cars. Just like this Norton, each bike from that collection represents the best example attainable at the time of purchase and appears as a fine grouping of bikes from the heyday of British and European motorcycle manufacture. Whilst some are suitable for the concours lawn, others are intended to be wound-up and ridden along sweeping country lanes - or on the racetrack!
· From a private museum-like collection
Previewing at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.
Introduced at the 1927 Motor Cycle Show, the ES2 sports roadster used the Model 18's overhead-valve engine in the cradle frame of the overhead-camshaft CS1, and from then onwards the 'ES2' designation was always applied to Norton's top-of-the-range, overhead-valve single. The ES2 was built in several versions during a production run lasting until 1963, though the engine dimensions of 79x100mm bore/stroke - first adopted by James Lansdowne Norton in 1911 - remained unchanged to the end. Post-war developments included the adoption of Roadholder telescopic forks (1947), an alloy cylinder head (1955), alternator electrics (1959) and the slimline version of the race-developed Featherbed frame, introduced on the single-cylinder range for 1961. Production of all of Norton's traditional singles ended in 1963, though the 'ES2' model name lived on until 1966, in its latter years referring to AMC's Matchless G80, which was contentiously re-badged as a Norton.
This Norton ES2 has been consigned from a well-known private collection in the NE. The bike was housed in a private Museum type setting along with a stable of historic single-seater race cars. Just like this Norton, each bike from that collection represents the best example attainable at the time of purchase and appears as a fine grouping of bikes from the heyday of British and European motorcycle manufacture. Whilst some are suitable for the concours lawn, others are intended to be wound-up and ridden along sweeping country lanes - or on the racetrack!
Saleroom notices
Please note the title is in transit.
Additional information
Looking for a similar item?
Our Motorcycles specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Auction Viewings
- 9 October 2020, 08:30 - 17:00 CDT
- 10 October 2020, 08:30 - 12:00 CDT
- 9 October 2020, 10:00 - 17:00 EDT
- 10 October 2020, 10:00 - 12:00 EDT
