swiss norton

Seems to be that i have a interesting bike :lol: . O.K. one thing is, in Switzerland it is the Law to have the correct engine, in the correct frame with the correct exhaust system as the manufacturer it has build ! You can replace a 850 with a period correct 850, but never a 750 with a 850. If you want to do something like this, you have to pass a state test procedure with your bike ! So, if you want to do that without trouble, you restamp your engine/frame ( i have never done such things, i have only heard ) It's possible that the MK1 (MN1) stamping is a swiss market unique ( to identify the engine ). All early US car's have never had a stamped VIN number to the frame, except the cars in switzerland. Reason: a attached VIN plate can removed and reused, a stamped VIN can't !
My wish is to know the correct production date from engine and frame, so i can build my bike troublefree with the parts that fit. I build my car's and bikes for fun, to ride, to wrench ...I know it isn't the "all is correct resto", but the big plus is, i can enjoy it, without to worry about to damage a unique bike/car like a combat or a 71' hemicuda. I do a lot of modifications to my car's, but always with a close to factory look,so it's fun to see the peoples scratching their heads.
Enjoy your rides, you will see the tears in grandma's eyes when she gets her youth back !
Thanks all for their support.
Marco

4onthefloor said:

O.K. one thing is, in Switzerland it is the Law to have the correct engine, in the correct frame with the correct exhaust system as the manufacturer it has build ! You can replace a 850 with a period correct 850, but never a 750 with a 850.

Click to expand...

The frame and frame VIN plate do seem to be stamped with a Mk2 (F1) frame number, but the plates can be changed easily enough, however the frame is stamped with a Mk1 part number which seems a little odd, but all sorts of strange things happened at the Norton factory - so who knows!

Commando Mk2 production commenced during late 1973 apparently, so both Mk1/1A and early Mk2/2A models could both be technically described as 1974 production models, even if the frame did not originally belong with that engine and gearbox they could be classed as being from the same production year?

I will admit that 3 of the frames I have at this moment are all powdercoated and could be hiding faint stampings, but I doubt it.

Then again, the 4th chassis is a bare, lightly rusted one, also with no stamping.

Lastly, I must admit that I didn't remove the tank from my '75 Mark III to examine it, I just ran my fingers underneath and felt nothing but the smooth original paint.

I'm not going to move a pile of parts 3 bikes deel to double-check the 6th frame.

Are they all 850 frames?



I don't think the part number was stamped before 1973 anyway?

And I don't know if it was stamped on the 750 frames at all?

So it could be pointless checking any 750 frames?

I checked my 3/75 MkIII frame for a number on the left coil/engine mount. The number stamped into the mount is 065632. I checked the NZ company British Spares price parts list and that part no. is listed and the no. 064140 reverts to 065632. My frame is metric in tube size.
Ian.

SHAME ON ME!!!!

My '75 Mark III is indeed stamped 065632 on the coil/tank mount.

Sorry for the confusion.

All the other frames are 750s.

I'll contact the guy who importet the norton bikes in switzerland, maybe he knows a little bit more.
Norton has had financial trouble in the early seventies, in case of many engine damages and quality problems. Maybe they put together what's hanging around, engine, frames and more. I'll report you, if i know any more!
P.S: has anyone know, that Chrysler an GM has had an assembling plant in the 60's for their cars in switzerland ?

Greetings Marco