Never miss an auction
Never miss an auction
£6,000 - £7,000
1959 Norton Model 50/ES2, 490cc. Registration umber TSJ 877 (non transferrable). Frame number R13 84659. Engine number 101817 (1962).
The genesis of the Model 50 can be found back in the 1930s when two new OHV machines were added to Norton’s range, the Models 50 and 55. Both were 350 singles, a single port and a fashionable twin-port version. Gradually developed the Model 50 disappeared at the outbreak of the Second World War.
It reappeared in the latter part of 1955 by which time Norton had been acquired by AMC, if the earlier Model 50 was simply a downsized Model 18, then the postwar reincarnation was almost an ES2 but with a 348cc engine in the 500’s swinging arm frame.
The ES2 was built in several versions during a production run lasting until 1963, though the engine dimensions of 79 x 100mm bore/stroke – first adopted by James Lansdowne Norton in 1911 – remained unchanged to the end. Over the years it went from having a rigid frame with girder forks, to using the Inter's "Garden Gate" frame with plunger rear suspension, married to Norton's Roadholder telescopic forks. Eventually the ES2 would be housed in the famous Featherbed frame, Norton's gift to good handling.
TSJ, previously sold as a project by these rooms, has now been fully recommissioned by our serial bike restoring vendor. The frame and tinware has been powder coated, the wheel respoked, the head has been off and checked over, various new bearings and cables, new silencer and exhaust pipe, new seat cover and new new tyres, together with many smaller parts. Now running smoothly it is ready for this seasons bike runs and presents very well.
Sold with the V5C and a copy 1950-54 Instruction Manual.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
15% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
18.6% inc VAT*
