Need bodywork photos of an original red white blue MKIII

jimbo

jimbo

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Need bodywork photos of an original red white blue MKIII

The seller of this bike claims that the paintwork is original but I don't think so


Need bodywork photos of an original red white blue MKIII
Need bodywork photos of an original red white blue MKIII
Need bodywork photos of an original red white blue MKIII
 
Here's what little I know and I expect Les to straighten me out (hope so). I recently bought a set that I believe is original. No clear coat, clearly masked and painted, looks just like pictures I've seen, and the "Norton" is stickers. The set I have does not say "Electric Start". It shows in the MK3 brochure but not in the parts manual.

I would like to add it to my Norton colors page: https://www.gregmarsh.com/MC/Norton/CommandoColors.aspx but have not been confident of when it was available. I'm guessing 74 and 75 but I don't have a 74 brochure or anything else that tells me.
 
marshg246 said:
The set I have does not say "Electric Start". It shows in the MK3 brochure but not in the parts manual.
Click to expand...

'Electric Start' should be immediately below 'Commando' not on the blue line as it's all one sticker.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk


marshg246 said:
I'm guessing 74 and 75 but I don't have a 74 brochure or anything else that tells me.
Click to expand...


First introduced on the Mk2/2A so the tank and battery side panel (and sticker) are different to the Mk3.
 
L.A.B. said:
'Electric Start' should be immediately below 'Commando' not on the blue line as it's all one sticker.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk





First introduced on the Mk2/2A so the tank and battery side panel (and sticker) are different to the Mk3.
Click to expand...
Is there a parts supplement that shows the part numbers for the Mk2/2A in that color scheme?

Unless I'm missing the tree for the forest, the 74 brochure shows the John Player bike (fairings) but not the color scheme for the tank and side covers.

So, to the OP question, it appears to not be original paint due to the "Electric Start" placement and since it appears to be clear coated.
 
L.A.B. said:



Need bodywork photos of an original red white blue MKIII
"New first time Blue Stripe finish."
Click to expand...
OK, so the Mk2/2A bikes could be Dayglow White with Blue stripes (no red) and the MK3 had the same basic scheme but the thinner line was red. We know the Mk2/2A started begin built well before 1974 but the 1973 brochure has no mention of the scheme. What is the guess when the Mk2/2A started being available painted that way?

I guess it's clear that the "original" set I have is not original (thinner stripe is red) and it doesn't say "Electric Start".
 
marshg246 said:
OK, so the Mk2/2A bikes could be Dayglow White with Blue stripes (no red) and the MK3 had the same basic scheme but the thinner line was red.
Click to expand...
The thin stripe was red for both (finish 163).
The MK2, 2A and MK3 battery cover panels are all different and most Mk3 fuel tanks have no lip at the front.
 
Last edited:
L.A.B. said:
The thin stripe was red for both (finish 163).
The MK2, 2A and MK3 battery cover panels are all different and most Mk3 fuel tanks have no lip at the front.
Click to expand...
OK, now I'm really confused. The picture you posted appeared to be White and Blue (no Red). The parts supplement you linked said Dayglow White and Blue. The Mk3 pictures I've seen show White, large stripe Blue, and small stripe Red.

At you saying that the Mk2/2A and MK3 were all Dayglow White with a wide Blue stripe and a narrow Red stripe?
 
marshg246 said:
At you saying that the Mk2/2A and MK3 were all Dayglow White with a wide Blue stripe and a narrow Red stripe?
Click to expand...

Yes. Whether the picture shows a thin blue line or its just a trick of the light, the thin line was normally red for Mk2/2A and Mk3.
 
L.A.B. said:
Yes. Whether the picture shows a thin blue line or its just a trick of the light, the thin line was normally red for Mk2/2A and Mk3.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that actually makes more sense to me than just White and Blue. It also means that the tank and side covers I have are likely original like I first thought.
 
marshg246 said:
OK, now I'm really confused. The picture you posted appeared to be White and Blue (no Red). The parts supplement you linked said Dayglow White and Blue. The Mk3 pictures I've seen show White, large stripe Blue, and small stripe Red.

At you saying that the Mk2/2A and MK3 were all Dayglow White with a wide Blue stripe and a narrow Red stripe?
Click to expand...
I bought my 1974 Commando right out of the box in April, 1974. It was white with a wide blue stripe and a narrow red stripe. Unfortunately, no photos available from that time and the bike has changed colour many times over the years. The photo in my avatar taken around 2019 is the latest iteration of the paint scheme and represents my best recollection which is undoubtedly fuzzy almost 50 years later.
 
marshg246 said:
Thanks, that actually makes more sense to me than just White and Blue. It also means that the tank and side covers I have are likely original like I first thought.
Click to expand...
But depending on the battery panel which model as all three (Mk2/2A/3) battery panels are different.
 
L.A.B. said:
But depending on the battery panel which model as all three (Mk2/2A/3) battery panels are different.
Click to expand...
Did the Mk2 battery panel have a tool box? Also, separate subject, did the Mk1A have the battery located like the Mk2A and therefore no tool box?
 
marshg246 said:
Did the Mk2 battery panel have a tool box?
Click to expand...

Yes.
andover-norton.co.uk

Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts -

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

marshg246 said:
Also, separate subject, did the Mk1A have the battery located like the Mk2A and therefore no tool box?
Click to expand...

Yes.
andover-norton.co.uk

Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts -

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk
 
Swooshdave posted some great reference photos of his original rather beaten up blue & red striped paintwork some years back, complete with dimensions.
I've used them to generate my own stencils, and I'm happy they're a decent match.
To answer the original question: that's definitely not an original paint job.
 
The blue stripe at the front of the gas cap did not follow down the indentation in the tank which i always found a bit odd .. This tank definitely has been repainted. No necessarily an issue other then " what else is not true " in the description .
 
Ron Hulton said:
The blue stripe at the front of the gas cap did not follow down the indentation in the tank which i always found a bit odd .. This tank definitely has been repainted. No necessarily an issue other then " what else is not true " in the description .
Click to expand...
That is exactly how it appears in the picture I posted from a Norton brochure. Post# 3 above
 
My 1974 Mk2a has the white, blue and red stripe color pattern and I’m told by a painter it’s original.
Need bodywork photos of an original red white blue MKIII
 
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