Property of a deceased's estate, Norton-Vincent 998cc 'Norvin' Special

• Restored by John Mossey Restorations
• Completed 2005
• Stored unused since completion
• Requires recommissioning

Developed from a design by Rex McCandless and first used by Norton on the works single-cylinder racers in 1950, when Geoff Duke rode it to a debut race victory at Blandford, the legendary 'Featherbed' frame has long been the special-builders' favourite. McCandless's design was way ahead of its time, and of the opposition, enabling Norton to maintain the competitiveness of their singles in the face of the growing challenge from foreign multis. New standards of steering, roadholding and comfort were set by the new frame, which was immediately dubbed 'Featherbed' by Norton works star Harold Daniell. Although designed with a single-cylinder engine in mind, the generously proportioned Featherbed would in time prove capable of accommodating a wide variety of different power units - twins, triples, fours and v-twins, all could be made to fit with a little ingenuity.

There have been several constructed with the Vincent v-twin engine, such as that offered here, which is fitted with engine number 'F10AB/2/11099', originally from a Series-D Black Knight, as advised by the VOC Registrar, Simon Dinsdale. The Norvin was restored for the late owner by John Mossey Restorations (to whom it was previously registered) in the early 2000s and completed in 2005 (see bills and correspondence on file). Since restoration the machine has been kept dry stored in a secured locked garage and has not been used. Following this period of storage and inactivity, the Norvin will require re-commissioning to a greater or lesser extent before further use and thus is sold strictly as viewed. An assortment of spares comes with the machine to include a fuel tank, oil tank, gear linkage, rear brake linkage, oil pipes, and a Brooklands Can silencer, close inspection advised. Accompanying paperwork includes old/current V5C documents, post-restoration photographs, a Dresda Autos Ltd invoice, and the aforementioned JMR invoices and correspondence. Two keys present. It should be noted that the V5C records the date of first registration as 1955, and that the frame number 'RB 11099' is not a factory stamping.