Q re fastback color

mike996 · Apr 9, 2015

Did fastbacks ORIGINALLY all come with side covers that were NOT body color? I have seen quite a few pics of fastbacks that have side covers in what appears to be silver (or grey) or black while the tank/tailpiece are another color. Was this the way they all were originally or did the color scheme change during the several years FBs were being produced? IOW, were the side covers contrasting color at first and then changed later in production to body color?

My "fake" fastback (1973 850) is all BRG but the tank's gelcoat color is starting to mottle a bit so I'm thinking of painting it - maybe the same color or maybe not - and am trying to find out whether body-colored side covers are "correct."

I want to be sure my phony fastback looks right!

For that matter, what colors did FBs come it back in the day?

L.A.B. · Apr 9, 2015

http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Broch ... chures.htm

ILLF8ED · Apr 9, 2015

'71 and later fastback had the roadster oil tank and a fiberglass cover on that side. Earlier had only the oil tank, no cover and usually painted silver. The later fiberglass cover was usually black regardless of the tank/tail piece color.

DogT · Apr 9, 2015

Be careful referencing 'Fastback'. The early FB were actually just called Commando, then when the later models came out after the 68/70 R, S and Roadster, came the later 'Fastback', which were really different than the now referenced early 'Fastback'. The term fastback was then used also for the early 'Commando'. At least that's my understanding. The early FB (Commando) had the large side panels and oil tank, the later ones had the smaller panels and oil tank and you'll have to go through the brochures to see the difference in size and colors. See piero's thread on the R.

I wish we could call the early fastback something else (Early Commando?) to avoid the confusion but good luck with that now.

Rohan · Apr 9, 2015

DogT said:
I wish we could call the early fastback something else (Early Commando?) to avoid the confusion but good luck with that now.

Why ?
Ordered minds can easily cope with Fastbacks of various years.
Same as we do for all other models...

As for 850 Fastbacks, I think they look good in all the same body color.
And since they never came out of the factory like that anyway, how can they be 'right' or not.
If the factory had done them, thats probably how they could have been...

mike996 · Apr 9, 2015

Thanks guys and specific thanks LAB for that list of brochures. I discovered that regardless what I do with the side covers, my black cylinder barrels are WRONG!

Oh well, nobody but us Norton loonies would ever know the difference! Now I can do serious work on the Commando BECAUSE...

I just minutes ago made a deal on a 2015 BMW R 9 T that is already located in Mexico. It's my first new bike in 15 years...last new bike was a new Ducati 996 in 2000 (sold when we moved to Mexico due to work - took the Norton with us). So now the Norton doesn't have to be always available as it did for the 9 years it was my only motorcycle.

Rohan · Apr 9, 2015

mike996 said:
I discovered that regardless what I do with the side covers, my black cylinder barrels are WRONG!

If you watch, very few 850 Mk1 have survived with silver cylinders.
They rusted, quite quickly, and most owners seem to have made them black.

I had a Mk1, and have been observing this since for quite some years.
Back then, I simply changed them to a later set of cylinders when a rebore was needed.
The black was sooo much more durable...

Whats more, many 850 Mk1 being sold are described as a Mk 2, the Mk 1 often doesn't even seem to get recognised.

Matt Spencer · Apr 9, 2015

ACTUALLY , the FIRST fastbacks had the integral Oil Tank / Side Cover , to scald your leg .
Intermediate Had the ' box ' oil tank , ( as per S ' )with large F Glass R hand side cover ,
Fastback Mk V ? ( 73 on ? ) had the roadster type side covers .

The Correct colour scheme is Silver overall , inc. frame , green globe insignia & orange seat .

actually look quite good . Pre Katana phsycadelica .though the local one had had std. Norton tank badges fitted pre delivery .
The dude said he had the green ones in a draw . If these survived theyd be rare as rare like rare rare rare . Or even rarer .

ARRGHH .

Rohan · Apr 10, 2015

Matt Spencer said:
ACTUALLY , the FIRST fastbacks had the integral Oil Tank / Side Cover , to scald your leg .
Intermediate Had the ' box ' oil tank , ( as per S ' )with large F Glass R hand side cover ,
Fastback Mk V ? ( 73 on ? ) had the roadster type side covers .

The Correct colour scheme is Silver overall , inc. frame , green globe insignia & orange seat .

Someone said that about the oil tanks ?

This one is on fleabay.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODkxWDEyOTI=/ ... V/$_57.JPG

No green globe badges though, no silver frame, and quite a (relatively) high number.

L.A.B. · Apr 10, 2015

Matt Spencer said:
ACTUALLY , the FIRST fastbacks had the integral Oil Tank / Side Cover , to scald your leg .
Intermediate Had the ' box ' oil tank , ( as per S ' )with large F Glass R hand side cover ,
Fastback Mk V ? ( 73 on ? ) had the roadster type side covers .

As far as I am aware, there were no Fastbacks built with the central oil tank, and there were no "Fastback Mk V ? (73 on ? )" models as the Fastback series ended at Fastback Mk.IV in 1972, any Fastbacks sold in 1973 were left-over 1972 models.

The later Fastbacks didn't have "Roadster type side covers".
http://www.oldbritts.com/1972_g21.html

Ron L · Apr 10, 2015

The Correct colour scheme is Silver overall , inc. frame , green globe insignia & orange seat .

Only for the Earl's court machine and "re-touched" advertising was there a silver frame or green globe badge. None of the production units were built this way. Production frames were all black and the early '68 models had "Norton Villiers" plastic badges, late '68 (maybe '69?) had decals. Colors were red or green and silver side panels with a few all silver metalflake in '68 and a few two tone silver/candy red in '69.

Curiously there are 1968 part numbers for a black seat, an orange seat, and a white seat.

dynodave · Apr 10, 2015

L.A.B. said:
Matt Spencer said:

ACTUALLY , the FIRST fastbacks had the integral Oil Tank / Side Cover , to scald your leg .
Intermediate Had the ' box ' oil tank , ( as per S ' )with large F Glass R hand side cover ,
Fastback Mk V ? ( 73 on ? ) had the roadster type side covers .

Click to expand...

As far as I am aware, there were no Fastbacks built with the central oil tank, and there were no "Fastback Mk V ? (73 on ? )" models as the Fastback series ended at Fastback Mk.IV in 1972, any Fastbacks sold in 1973 were left-over 1972 models.

The later Fastbacks didn't have "Roadster type side covers".
http://www.oldbritts.com/1972_g21.html

Hi Les
While I'd agreed there were no fastback with "S" oil tank, I have seen here in the USA, 72 fastback claimed to be original fastbacks with roadster side covers colored like tank.... But I've also seen even less...72 fastbacks with fiberglass fastback side covers over roadster oil tanks, but there are some....
I'm not trying to revise history but this has always been a nagging point for me...and ...I'd agree 72 last year for fastback due to f-glass tank.

Rohan · Apr 10, 2015

dynodave said:
I have seen here in the USA, 72 fastback claimed to be original fastbacks with roadster side covers colored like tank.

The question is, did it come from the factory like that ??

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/ ... f/$_57.JPG
Amazing what can happen in subsequent years....

Matt Spencer · Apr 10, 2015

The L R had a STEEL TANK .

ILLF8ED · Apr 10, 2015

Rohan said:
dynodave said:

I have seen here in the USA, 72 fastback claimed to be original fastbacks with roadster side covers colored like tank.

Click to expand...

The question is, did it come from the factory like that ??

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/ ... f/$_57.JPG
Amazing what can happen in subsequent years....

Three supporting documents show '71 and '72 fastback had fastback specific side covers 061785 accessory and 061675 RH. Parts list and '71 and '72 sales brochure. It could be possible Norton ran out of the larger covers in '72 and used roadster, but not likely in '71 as they had them still in '72.

Q re fastback color

mike996

L.A.B.

Moderator

ILLF8ED

DogT

Rohan

mike996

Rohan

Matt Spencer

Rohan

L.A.B.

Moderator

Ron L

dynodave

Rohan

Matt Spencer

ILLF8ED

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