Lot Ended
Description
From a carefully curated private collection; four owners from new;
restored to award-winning condition in the late-1990s and carefully used since;
recent professional check-over; matching numbers; an exceptionally smart and
well-historied example of this classic 'gentleman's
express'
Making its debut
on the racetrack in 1922, Norton’s Model 18 was made available in road-going
form the following year. Renowned for its speed and reliability, this sports
roadster set a host of records using the standard 490cc OHV engine, including
Alec Bennett’s win at the Senior TT in 1924.
Extensively redesigned in 1931, the Model 18 gained dry-sump
lubrication and a rear-mounted magneto while Norton’s own four-speed foot-change
gearbox replaced the old Sturmey Archer in 1935. By 1937 it had evolved still
further, the ‘Type 14’ engine now boasting enclosed valve gear – a significant
upgrade that kept oil inside the engine rather than on the rider's boots.
Delivering some 21bhp, the Model 18 could
comfortably hit 75mph making this ‘gentleman’s express’ one of the fastest
machines of its era. Adapted for use by the British Army during WW2, Norton also
clandestinely donated 300 Model 18s to the Republicans fighting against the
fascist dictator Franco in the Spanish Civil War. Production resumed after WW2 and it
remained on sale as late as 1954.
A notable
post-war owner was Che Guevara, who famously rode his 1939 Model 18
(affectionately dubbed La Poderosa - The Mighty One) on his
formative 5,000-mile odyssey across South America in 1952, as recounted in his
posthumously published memoir, The Motorcycle
Diaries.
This particular Model 18 comes with
a large and interesting history file including correspondence from the Norton
Owners Club confirming that it left the works in June 1937 and is a ‘matching
numbers’ machine (frame no. 81501; engine no. 79065). It was supplied new via
Simpson Motorcycles of Ashford, Middlesex, to a local gent, Mr Bond, who was to
keep it for the next 57 years.
In 1988 it was
acquired by a Mr D Rutherford of Bodmin who had the bike professionally restored
by Brian Kettle (as shown in photos on file). Finally completed in 1998, the
bike was then reunited with its original GME 342 number plate, using the
services of our old friend Michael Worthington-Williams.
Mr Rutherford was to keep the bike for the next 23 years during which
time it attended many events, winning a ‘Pre-1945 Single Runner-Up Award’ on its
first major outing to the Norton 100th Anniversary celebrations in
June 1998. Documents show that it also attended the Cornwall Run, the VMCC Manx
Rally and the VMCC Brooklands Centenary Festival in 2007 plus various other
gatherings.
In June 2021 he finally sold the
bike via Comet Classics to a Mr J Howell of Steyning, the invoice showing that
he paid £12,700. Our vendor acquired the bike from him in May 2023 to join his
carefully curated collection of Vintage cars and motorcycles, the invoice
showing that he too paid virtually the same amount.
There are various invoices for upkeep and new parts fitted since the
restoration was completed in 1998. Other documentation includes an original
Instruction Manual, four old MOTs from 2000 – 2007 and a wealth of technical
literature relating to the model. A useful quantity of spares are also included
(original exhaust pipe; spark plugs; handlebar clamps; clutch cable; fuel taps
and hoses; tank cap etc).
An original and
period-correct Smith’s speedometer and mounting bracket is also available to the
winning bidder for an additional £100 if desired (see last photo).
We are told that the bike rides as well as it
looks. Immediately before the auction, the vendor had it professionally
checked over by Andrew Mitchell of Ledbury, and we are further told that:
“He agreed that it was a really solid restoration which you could keep riding
for many years to come”.
As you can see in the
photos and the video, this well-historied Norton looks very nice indeed. An icon
of industrial design with wonderful Art Deco styling, it would sit well in any
collection.
In fact your scribe would love to
have it in his sitting room, but unfortunately his wife doesn’t share his
enthusiasm and the dog-house gets rather cold at this time of year. Bid
vigorously now and his loss could be your gain…
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com