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500 Model 18

1924
500 Model 18 1930
500 Model 18 1947-54
650SS 1968
Atlas 750 1962-68
Atlas Nomad 2019
Atlas Ranger 2019
C 652 Combat 2000
C 652 SM International 1999
Challenge P86  
Classic Rotary 1987
Commander Rotary 1989-91
Commander Rotary Police 1990
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Commando 750 Fastback 1967-69
Commando 750 Fastback 1970-71
Commando 750 Hi-Rider 1971
Commando 750 Interstate 1972
Commando 750 Roadster 1970-71
Commando 750 Roadster 1972
Commando 750S Scrambler 1969-70
Commando 850 1973
Commando 850 1974
Commando 850 JPS 1974
Commando 850 (electric starter) 1975
Commando 850 Interstate 1975
Commando 850 Roadster 1975
Commando Interpol 1 1974
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Commando 951 2005-06
Commando 961Café Racer 2010-11
Commando 961 Café Racer Special Edition 2011
Commando 961 Café Racer 2012-13
Commando 961 Café Racer 2014-15
Commando 961 Café Racer MKII 2016-17
Commando 961 Café Racer MKII  "Mick Grant Special" Limited Edition 2016
Commando 961 Café Racer MKII 2018
Commando 961 California 50th Anniversary 2018
Commando 961 SE 2011-12
Commando 961 SF 2013-14
Commando 961 SF 2015
Commando 961 SF MKII 2016-17
Commando 961 SF MKII 2018-
Commando 961 Sport 2010
Commando 961 Sport 2013-15
Commando 961 Sport MKII 2016-17
Commando 961 Sport MKII 2018-19
Commando 961 Sport MKII Bretting Special Edition 2019
Commando 961 Street Limited Edition 2019
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Dunstall 1966-75
Dominator 77 1957-58
Dominator 88 1956-62
Dominator 88SS 1961-62
Dominator 99 1956-62
Dominator 99 De Lux 1960-62
Dominator 99SS 1961-62
Dominator 650SS 1962-68
Dominator 961 Concept 2015
Dominator 961SS 2016
Dominator 961 Café Racer 2017
Dominator 961 Street Limited Edition 2020
Domiracer Limited Edition 2014
FI JPS 1989
F2 1992

Featherbed

1950

Kneeler

1953
Interpol 2 Classic 1988

International / 500

1933-36
International Model 30 1955
Mercury 1968-70
Nemesis 1998
P11 / P11A / Ranger 1967
Superlight 2019
Superlight SS 2020

Twin

1907

V4 RR & SS 2017-

History

 

James Lansdown Norton founded the Norton Company in 1898 in the motorcycle manufacturing rich area of Birmingham and produced and supplied parts to bicycle and motorcycle manufacturers.

 

Norton began producing its own motorcycles in 1902 using Clement and Peugeot engines. Norton's were considered 'behind the times', still using belt drive by the dawn of the First World War but improved their technology soon after with a clutch, gearbox and chain drive.

 

Norton had considerable success in racing including taking nine places in the top fourteen in the first Manx TT in 1920 although none of those nine places garnered a win. Norton also boasted wins at Brooklands and many other races in Europe.

Norton was bought by motorcycle giant Associated Motor Cycles (AJS, Matchless, James and Francis-Barnett) in 1953 after it was evident that the company couldn't financially survive despite the success of the featherbed frame used in racing bikes as well as the Dominator in 1952. This take-over was not welcomed news to Norton aficionados.

AMC went into receivership in 1966. Norton was the only motorcycle marque in the company that made money at this point. The new owner called the reformed company Norton-Villiers. A few years would pass only to see financial trouble again. In 1973, the British government's attempt to rescue the motorcycle industry forced a merger of BSA/Triumph and Norton-Villiers in return for funds to remain in business. The resultant company was called was Norton-Villiers-Triumph (NVT). This incarnation of Norton liquidated in 1978 but the new owner kept building rotary engined motorcycles for the next 15 years with some success but few sales until the Norton name as we know it just slowly disappeared.

 

In late 2008, Stuart Garner, a UK businessman, bought the rights to Norton from some US concerns and relaunched Norton in its Midlands home at Donington Park where it was to develop the 961cc Norton Commando and a new range of Norton motorcycles.

On 29 January 2020, it was announced that the company had gone into administration Administrators BDO were appointed by Metro Bank The company had been in court over £300,000 of unpaid taxes due to HM Revenue and Customs, from an original amount of £600,000, with company representatives stating that £135,000 in "outstanding research and development tax relief" was overdue and would substantially reduce the amount owed. HMRC gave the company more time to pay and the court case was adjourned until mid-February.

There were reports that there had been fraudulent wrongdoing which affected hundreds of pension holders who invested in the company, Norton customers, and staff; government ministers had endorsed Norton as millions of pounds of government grants and loans were provided.

On 17th April 2020, it has been reported that India's TVS Motor Company acquired Norton Motorcycle Company in an all cash deal. In the short term, they will be continue production of motorcycles at Donington park using the same staff.

 

 

 

 

 



 

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