Norton Domi in OZ

Fairly expensive if it still needs completing. ?
Doesn't look too much like a 1949 model either, more 1951 ish.
 
$10,000 - in the 60s you would have paid $10 for it. However I suppose it all comes down to what you want and how you really value it. The price is then irrelevant.
 
acotrel said:
in the 60s you would have paid $10 for it.
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In the 1960s you couldn't get spare parts for them !
So were 'repaired' with whatever was to hand.
Probably explains the Triumph headlamp nacelle that was on the one I bought.
And the ES2 mudguards.

In the 1970s, you could buy a brand new Commando for $1500.
Now look what they are bringing.

In the early 1950s, a Model 7 was about 400 quid, new.
You could buy most of a house for that kind of dosh. !!
Look where they are now....

Ypu pays your money, and you makes your choice.
 
I didn't think the Dominator 500 appeared on the market until the mid-1950's. No way it was around in 1949 - they were still rigid frame ES2's and ex-War Department bikes.
 
No. It was definitely available by 1949.

Not featherbed of course at that time.
 
johnm said:
No. It was definitely available by 1949.

Not featherbed of course at that time.
Click to expand...

Quite right John.
You really should check your facts before posting, Frank !
I've got a 1949 dommie Model 7, plunger frame version. (still assembling it and getting it shiny).
They were announced in late 1948, for the 1949 model year.

Interestingly, the engine patents on the timing cover badge are all 1947.
Oddly, this publicity pic with the launch announcement doesn't even show a timing cover badge, but an engraved Norton logo.

BTW, you can tell a 1949 dommie engine at a glance - it only has 11 timing cover screws.
Its missing the one at 4 o'oclock.
All later years have 12.
It also has the 1" rebate all around the edge of the mudguards.
Norton Domi in OZ
 
The ES2 had the plunger sprung frames from 1947, with the upright gearbox.
And telescopic roadholder forks, with STEEL lower fork sliders, on the early ones anyway.
 
I tried for a long time to find a Norton plunger frame. I looked at a few with bronze in all sorts of unusual places and almost bought one which had been repaired. I've been saving bits for a garden gate bike forever. It seems that in Australia, that sort of stuff can only be obtained if you've got something better to swap for it - money doesn't often talk. When I was a kid, I saw a shed full of prewar and featherbed SOHC Norton singles for not much money. You wouldn't buy them back then - I'm kicking myself now. A prewar or even up to a 1956 plus inter or manx is a beautiful beast.
 
Another fairly expensive unrestored bike ??
Be cheaper to bring out a restored one from the UK ??

acotrel said:
I tried for a long time to find a Norton plunger frame. .
Click to expand...

Australia is by far the best place to search/find one of these - there were a number
of very active Norton Dealers and importers in that era, and there seem to be way more
of these bikes here than anywhere else - some Dealers have been making a killing exporting
them (nicely restored) to places that didn't seem to get any/many.

A while back, I built up a complete early dommie plunger frame twin from misc parts, mostly sourced off fleabay.
Saw the frame advertised, and went from there. I did have another complete bike though, so knew exactly what
the parts looked like - not always easy with Nortons where there are a lot of very similar parts for different models -
that seem (deliberately ?) to have been made not to fit across other models !
 
Back in the 70s, I looked at quite a few plunger frames. I almost bought one which had the gearbox tangs bronze welded back on, however guy selling it decided it was like selling the Mona Lisa. After that I pretty much gave up looking. I've still got a couple of upright gearboxes, Inter oil tank, fork bits - that sort of stuff. These days I don't sell much. However If I found a decent frame, I would start to build another bike. In the 70s they were hard to find- probably impossible now.
 
ES2 frames appear now and then on fleabay, not vast prices usually.
You have to inspect closely for cracks, however...

Basket cases still appear now and then too, but they are getting expensive.
Folks see big prices for nice bikes, and imagine their junk is as good ? !
 
It has got a bid of $500 on it. I think it could bring $5000. Looks like most of the essentials are there, all it needs is a bottle of car polish.
 
IMO, $500 Au is about top dollar.... As has been said, "bits" will be $10k like or not ... If you cant DIY then chuck another $10k at it.. If you got the money, time and reason it a place to start.....
 
I think that would be a good buy for $500. The motor and gearbox look as though they are assembled. It depends on whether some rabbit has worked on it. If it was a complete bike and someone simply pulled it apart intending to paint it, it might not be too bad. If the internals haven't been butchered, I cannot see an additional $10K in it. I think late model AMC internals should fit the gearbox. I have two upright boxes, and the look the same as the AMC inside. As far as the motor is concerned, it would be easy to re-engineer it and make it more reliable. The magneto would not be a problem - there are plenty of PAL speedway ones around, also electronic internal ones. The rest is simply machining bushes and spacers and doing a paint job and some wiring. Re-building wheels can cost a bit. One problem - can you still buy cycle thread studs, bolts and nuts ?

If you cannot DIY - forget it.
 
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