LOT 555
1939 Norton 490cc International Registration no. SO 6727 Frame no. 61155 Engine no. 91258
Sold for £21,850 inc. premium
Lot 555
1939 Norton 490cc InternationalRegistration no. SO 6727 Frame no. 61155 Engine no. 91258
The Autumn Stafford Sale – The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|16 October 2022, 10:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground
1939 Norton 490cc International
Registration no. SO 6727
Frame no. 61155
Engine no. 91258
Registration no. SO 6727
Frame no. 61155
Engine no. 91258
'SO 6727' was bought new in 1939 by Robert McLaren, whose father was a Norton agent in Forres, Scotland, through Alexander's of Aberdeen. His elder brother stayed at home during WW2 and kept the Norton licensed and ready to go. Robert, when on leave, regularly went to Gailes in Ayrshire on the bike, a trip he funded by playing the accordion for 10 shillings a night! When the War ended, Robert was posted to RAF Lossiemouth with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Circa 1947/48, he sold the International, with 7-8,000 miles on the clock, to a friend called Willy Anderson of Muirfield Road, Elgin.
The next owner, James Angus Gellatly, saw the International advertised in Motorcycle Sport in 1954. He told the story above to the late John Foster in 1995. John Foster bought the Norton in 1993, its previous owner (since December 1986) being Alan Douglas Clark of Auchterhouse, Dundee. John covered many miles on the Norton and returned it to the original rubber-seat-and-separate-pillion layout. He also rode it from Fife, Scotland, to Switzerland for the Klausen Hill Climb in the 1990s.
His son inherited the Norton when John died in 2019 and has since had it sympathetically restored. It has sat for six years, but the tyres were new. Re-commissioning will be required before further use. Offered with a history file.
Key not required
The next owner, James Angus Gellatly, saw the International advertised in Motorcycle Sport in 1954. He told the story above to the late John Foster in 1995. John Foster bought the Norton in 1993, its previous owner (since December 1986) being Alan Douglas Clark of Auchterhouse, Dundee. John covered many miles on the Norton and returned it to the original rubber-seat-and-separate-pillion layout. He also rode it from Fife, Scotland, to Switzerland for the Klausen Hill Climb in the 1990s.
His son inherited the Norton when John died in 2019 and has since had it sympathetically restored. It has sat for six years, but the tyres were new. Re-commissioning will be required before further use. Offered with a history file.
Key not required
Footnotes
All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.
Saleroom notices
The frame number is 01195. The engine number is 91288. The machine is offered with a V5C, V5 and expired MOT's. It should noted the registration documents list frame number 61155, believed to be an old typographical error.
Additional information
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