There are quite a few pre-war Inters about but not many with original paint, known history and confirmed matching numbers. This 1937 Norton International was first despatched to Dealer H. Shaw in Dagenham, Essex on the 14th of July 1937.
Early history is not confirmed but apparently it was owned by an English Serviceman and for obvious reasons did not see much use in the first years. In the early 1950s the Norton was sold to Sweden where it stayed with one of the founders of the VMCC equivalent up untill the 1980s. In the early 1990s it was then sold back to the UK via Atlantic Motorcycles. Incidentally, the Norton crossed the pond once again, this time heading for Denmark in the mid 2010s.
The VMCC in the UK confirmed matching numbers for engine and frame. In recent years much work has been carried out:
- Wheels rebuild in the correct 20/21inch dimensions with new rims and spokes, new bearings fitted in the hubs and new brake linings fitted. Correct Avon tyres were also fitted.
- The gearbox was completely rebuild with all new bearings and bronze bushes.
- The correct International girder front fork was rebuild with new stainless spindles and nuts.
- The International is curently fitted with a later Amal Concentric carb. The original long neck Amal TT (specific to Norton) is included and is ready to fit.
- A superb BTH TT magneto was rebuild and fitted. The original Lucas Magdyno comes with the bike.
- New herringbone oil lines were fitted together with an original Velocette anti sump valve (not visible) making wet sumping a thing of the past.
- A correct pre-war Smiths speedo was also serviced by an expert and fitted with a new correct rubber covered speedo drive cable.
- A rechargeable battery was fitted inside the bum pad to give power to the rear and front light.
- The paint on the frame, girder forks, front and rear hub and petrol tank is original first paint with a most lovely patina.
A racing oil tank with slightly larger capacity and the filler neck situated on the left hand side is fitted but the original oil tank with right hand filler neck is still with the bike and is identical in colour and patina to the petrol tank, being the same original paint.
All in all, this is very a lovely and fine example of the rigid frame Norton International in a wonderfully patinated condition.
It is fully serviced and ready for the road, will start first kick and is suprisingly quick once you get going: the speedo is known to have hit the magic Ton on a few occasions. Comes with current EU registration documents and older UK V5.
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