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 Norton - 350 Manx
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Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
4205

Capacity : 350
Model : Manx
Production : 1954 - 1962
Category : (R) Racing

NORTON

350 Manx· 1962

The tale of the Manx

Having dominated international racing for years, the long line of Manx Nortons came to

an end in 1962. The last of them were clearly identified by their double front brake drums.

The First Manx -Unofficially

It's more difficult to say when the first Manx actually came into being. The overhead-cam Norton International launched in 1931 celebrated the marque's success during the 1931 season. It had swept the board at the principal international meetings, with 500cc twins in the Isle of ManTI, Dutch TT and the Belgian, French, German, Manx, Swedish and Swiss Grands Prix, plus five 350cc wins. Stanley Woods, Tim Hunt and Jimmie Simpson won four races each. No wonder they called the Norton "unapproachable!"

For Road or Track

The "Inter" could be ordered in road or race prepared versions, and inevitably, many of these "International to Racing Specification" models were intended for the amateur Manx GP. At Norton's works, such machines were called "Manx," though the name wasn't official until after WII, when it differentiated the production racers from the International sports model. The postwar Manx had a "Garden Gate" frame with plunger rear suspension and the new Roadholder telescopic fork. In 1949, the Manx gained twin overhead-camshafts, fitted to works bikes since 1937. In 1950, Geoff Duke won at Blandford with the prototype 500 Featherbed Norton. The last real change in the Manx specification was a new camshaft drive in 1959. Production ceased in 1963.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 348cc (76x77mm) air-cooled singlecylinder four-stroke

Power Rating: 38 hp @ 7800 rpm

Valves: twin shaft-driven overhead-camshafts

Fuel System: Amal GP carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swing arm (rear)

Brakes: twin-leading-shoe 7 inch drums (front); drum (rear)

Wheels: 19 inch wire (from & rear)

Weight: 313 lb

Maximum Speed: 120 mph

 

The Manx Norton was highly competitive: Derek Minter won the 1962 Race of the Year at Mallory Park on a Manx, beating a works Honda Four.





Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.