Property of a deceased's estate, c.1957 Norton 350cc Manx Racing Motorcycle

Frame no. M10M 73811 Engine no. 11M 78809 (also stamped BEART and 1957)

• Reputedly raced by Terry Shepherd at the 1958 Isle of Man TT
• Francis Beart engine
• Present ownership since 1981/1982
• Professionally restored since it retired from racing

When production resumed in 1946, Norton's over-the-counter Manx racers were much the same 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 new 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. Loved and admired by all that have ridden one, the Manx Norton in its many forms is a mainstay of today's classic racing scene.
Reputedly raced by Terry Shepherd at the Isle of Man TT in 1958, a year in which he finished 4th in the Junior but retired from the Senior event, this Manx Norton incorporates a '500' frame and a 350cc engine: the latter stamped 'BEART' and '1957' in addition to the factory number. 'BEART', of course, stands for the legendary Manx Norton tuner Francis Beart, who sponsored and supplied engines to many of the UK's star riders, including Terry Shepherd. Though a noted Brooklands tuner, Beart's reputation was founded post-WW2 with Manx Nortons, latterly instantly identifiable in Ford's Ludlow Green livery. Arguably the most celebrated of all Norton tuners, Beart collected an unsurpassed total of 11 Manx GP wins plus ten 2nd and three 3rd places; he preferred longer, public roads events like the Isle of Man, where reliability counted for as much as speed.

The Manx was purchased by its late owner circa 1981/1982 and raced by him in classic events until replaced with replica Lancefield and Summerfield Manxes. When the machine was 'retired', the owner had it restored; renowned tuner Phil Kettle being entrusted with the engine rebuild. Subsequently the Manx took part in the last 'Festival of 1000 Bikes' to be held at Brands Hatch and came away with a trophy for 'Best Solo' despite not being entered in the concours! The Manx went on to feature in Classic Bike magazine (May 2008 edition, copy article available).