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LOT 746

c.1952 Norton 490cc 'International' Competition Special (See Text) Registration no. not registered Frame no. G44367 Engine no. 86720

Sold for £6,900 inc. premium
Lot 746

c.1952 Norton 490cc 'International' Competition Special (See Text)
Registration no. not registered Frame no. G44367 Engine no. 86720

c.1952 Norton 490cc 'International' Competition Special (See Text)
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. G44367
Engine no. 86720

Norton first applied the name 'International' to its overhead-camshaft model in 1932. A 'racer for the road', the top-of-the-range Inter was based on the works machines but could be ordered with refinements such as lights and a kick-start-equipped gearbox. By the time production halted in 1939, the Inter was being built with a four-speed foot-change gearbox and plunger rear suspension, reappearing after the war in similar guise save for the adoption of the hydraulically-damped Roadholder front fork which replaced the pre-war girder. The model received Norton's race-developed Featherbed frame for 1953 together with an alloy cylinder barrel/head and the new 'laid down' gearbox. Expensive to make and challenged by cheaper parallel twins of comparable performance, the Inter ceased to be catalogued after 1955 but could still be obtained to special order until 1958.

This handsome Norton was built in the 1970s as a competition 'special' by the lady vendor's husband, a successful sprint and hill climb competitor. It consists of a 'Garden Gate' plunger frame dating from 1952 and a 1960 International Model 30 engine. This motorcycle has obviously been built with great attention to detail and with speed in mind, the result being a most stylish British classic. The machine will require re-commissioning after a period of storage and thus is sold strictly as viewed. There is no paperwork with this Lot.

Saleroom notices

This machine is a c.1952 Norton 490cc ES2 Sprint Special, the frame being a garden gate plunger frame from a 1952 ES2 and the engine dating from 1938 from an International. Please click the link to view the walkaround video of Lot 746: click here

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