LOT 713
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection 1975 Norton-Cosworth Challenge P86 750cc Racing Motorcycle Frame no. JN 1 Engine no. none visible
Sold for £43,700 inc. premium
Lot 713
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection, 1975 Norton-Cosworth Challenge P86 750cc Racing Motorcycle Frame no. JN 1 Engine no. none visible
Offered from the National Motorcycle Museum Collection
1975 Norton-Cosworth Challenge P86 750cc Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. JN 1
Engine no. none visible
1975 Norton-Cosworth Challenge P86 750cc Racing Motorcycle
Frame no. JN 1
Engine no. none visible
• Ultra-rare Norton works racer
• No engine/gearbox internals
• For display purposes only
The urgent need to replace its ageing Commando twin with something more modern for both road and track prompted NVT to commission a new engine design from Cosworth Engineering. First shown in 1975, the Challenge water-cooled twin borrowed heavily from Cosworth's 3.0-litre DFV V8 Formula 1 engine, yet despite a claimed maximum power output of 115-120bhp the racer's handful of outings were disappointing, rider Dave Croxford being unable to match his old Commando-powered machine's lap times. With NVT on the point of collapse, the project was shelved in 1976.
Writing in Classic Bike magazine (December 1981 issue) Alan Cathcart states that of the four bikes constructed, two were sent to the USA while two remained in the UK until sold to a German entrepreneur. The latter then sold "two engines and enough chassis bits to make a compete bike" to Norton collector Ian Sutherland, and the resulting machine was ridden by Cathcart at Donington Park's 50th Anniversary meeting in August 1981. Cathcart's Challenge looked the same as the one last ridden by Croxford, complete with Norton's own leading-axle front fork and cast-aluminium, twin-shock swinging arm. Sutherland continued with development and ridden by Rob Sewell, a revised version up-dated with Harris cycle parts came close to a 100mph lap at the Isle of Man TT. The design's full potential would not be realised until 1988 however, when Roger Marshall won Daytona's Pro Twins race on Bob Graves' Challenge-based Quantel.
The Challenge offered here lacks engine/gearbox internals and thus is offered for display purposes only. Nevertheless, given that in recent years Messrs Crosthwaite & Gardiner have built pre-war Auto Union Grand Prix cars from scratch, and various individuals have recreated the legendary Moto Guzzi V8, re-manufacturing engine components for the twin-cylinder Challenge should prove comparatively straightforward should the next owner so desire. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding.
• No engine/gearbox internals
• For display purposes only
The urgent need to replace its ageing Commando twin with something more modern for both road and track prompted NVT to commission a new engine design from Cosworth Engineering. First shown in 1975, the Challenge water-cooled twin borrowed heavily from Cosworth's 3.0-litre DFV V8 Formula 1 engine, yet despite a claimed maximum power output of 115-120bhp the racer's handful of outings were disappointing, rider Dave Croxford being unable to match his old Commando-powered machine's lap times. With NVT on the point of collapse, the project was shelved in 1976.
Writing in Classic Bike magazine (December 1981 issue) Alan Cathcart states that of the four bikes constructed, two were sent to the USA while two remained in the UK until sold to a German entrepreneur. The latter then sold "two engines and enough chassis bits to make a compete bike" to Norton collector Ian Sutherland, and the resulting machine was ridden by Cathcart at Donington Park's 50th Anniversary meeting in August 1981. Cathcart's Challenge looked the same as the one last ridden by Croxford, complete with Norton's own leading-axle front fork and cast-aluminium, twin-shock swinging arm. Sutherland continued with development and ridden by Rob Sewell, a revised version up-dated with Harris cycle parts came close to a 100mph lap at the Isle of Man TT. The design's full potential would not be realised until 1988 however, when Roger Marshall won Daytona's Pro Twins race on Bob Graves' Challenge-based Quantel.
The Challenge offered here lacks engine/gearbox internals and thus is offered for display purposes only. Nevertheless, given that in recent years Messrs Crosthwaite & Gardiner have built pre-war Auto Union Grand Prix cars from scratch, and various individuals have recreated the legendary Moto Guzzi V8, re-manufacturing engine components for the twin-cylinder Challenge should prove comparatively straightforward should the next owner so desire. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding.
Saleroom notices
According to information supplied by Norman White, this machine was one of two factory machines which were experimented with and, on a few occasions, entered in international races without success. This machine was also fitted with experimental leading link forks on one occasion but never tested. Please note the engine number is JN1, not the frame number. Please click the link to view the walkaround video of Lot 713: click here
Additional information
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