LOT 280

1949 Norton 490cc 500T Registration no. ASJ 823 Frame no. D3T 22561 Engine no. D3T 22561

Sold for £6,670 inc. premium

Lot 280

1949 Norton 490cc 500T

The Autumn Stafford Sale – The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|14 October 2023, 10:30 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1949 Norton 490cc 500T
Registration no. ASJ 823
Frame no. D3T 22561
Engine no. D3T 22561

Following a season of extensive modification and experimentation, begun during the winter of 1947/48 by the legendary McCandless brothers - designers of Norton's peerless 'Featherbed' racing frame - resulted in the first appearance late in 1948 of an entirely new trials model: the 500T. The shorter and lighter WD 16H frame was used for the newcomer, which featured an ingeniously modified lower fork yoke that reduced the wheelbase to a more manageable 53". In its original, 'all-iron' engined form the 500T tipped the scales at 320lbs, while the subsequent adoption of an alloy cylinder head and (later) a Wellworthy alloy barrel brought that down to 300lbs. The 500T was announced as a 1949 model at the 1948 Motor Cycle Show, by which time a young Geoff Duke had already won that year's Allan Jefferies Trial riding a 350cc-engined prototype. Numerous other works and privateer competition successes throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s confirmed that Norton had produced a machine as good as, if not better than, any other rigid-framed trials iron. Sadly, there would be no sprung-frame development to carry on the line, and the 500T disappeared from the Norton line-up in 1954.

Owned by the vendors late father for the last 30 years, little history is known prior to it's purchase but is fitted with electronic ignition and will need recommissioning before further use. Offered with a V5C.
Key not required

Footnotes

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