1965 Norton Atlas Custom

Description

1965 Norton Atlas Slimline Featherbed Frame with Dominator 88 Hot Rod Motor Installed, omplete No Expense Spared Restoration, uns As New

Engine Number: 84027, rame Number: 112410

1965 Norton Atlas Slimline Featherbed Frame with Dominator 88 Hot Rod Motor Installed, omplete No Expense Spared Restoration, uns As New

Engine Number: 84027, rame Number: 112410

From the 1950’s to the 1970’s, he Norton motorcycle company turned out some of the fastest and best handling bikes in the world. And with all of the competition between the manufactures, he bikes were getting better with each new model introduction…

The condition of this machine is restored. Everything from the frame to the fenders has been restored, e-built, nd/or re-finished.

This machine has been a part of my collection for some time and is ridden occasionally. The bike is stored in a temperature controlled environment (my living room) throughout the entire year. The mileage after restoration is approximately 3,500.

When I purchased the Norton, he restoration had been completed by the previous owner approximately 9 years ago, ho has since unfortunately passed away. He was a Norton enthusiast who had a dream to build his ultimate Norton motorcycle, aking features of his favorites and melding them together into a living machine. What you see here is the result of his imagination, xpertise, nd love for motorcycles. So is it an Atlas? Or a Dominator 88? That’s for the new owner to decide. I always considered it both, lthough more of a Dominator because of all the time and energy the previous owner put into the mechanicals. Today, ll of the major engine, ransmission, nd braking components are operational and are in essentially the same condition they were in when the build was completed.

The motor installed in the machine is a Dominator 88 powerplant and even though it is obviously NOT the original motor, t is a perfect fit for the frame and really makes the bike handle very well, lending the fantastic Dominator 88 motor with the Slimline Featherbed frame.

The engine and transmission were completely re-built and restored to the original factory specifications with the motor being built to provide an increase in horsepower over the original Dominator 88 specifications while retaining reliability. All of the mechanicals are in excellent interior condition. A new battery was also recently installed.

The tires are in very nice condition and are the correct type and size (Dunlop Gold Seals) for the Norton. The brakes have also been checked recently for safety, ront and rear andfunction perfectly.

The paint was applied when restored and is in beautiful condition with the correct Norton emblems attached.

The seat is original and is in very nice condition.

The bike on the road is very easy to handle, nd rides down the road tight, ith no shakes, himmies, r rattles. It shifts and accelerates smoothly and holds the road as it should with the new tires installed.

There is absolutely nothing that needs to be done to this machine to ride, how, nd enjoy it. The new owner will have a top quality restoration that can be ridden and enjoyed as well as shown at any vintage motorcycle show.

TERMS: $500 DEPOSIT WITHIN 48 HOURS OF AUCTION CLOSE. BALANCE OF AUCTION AMOUNT MUST BE PAID BY CASH IN PERSON, ANK TO BANK TRANSFER, R CERTIFIED FUNDS (WITH VERIFICATION) ONLY WITHIN 7 DAYS OF AUCTION CLOSE. SORRY, O C.O.D. AND NO PAYPAL.

The description of this motorcycle is written to the best of my knowledge. However, am by no means an expert on vintage Norton motorcycles. Please don’t hesitate to ask for more photos and, f possible, ome and look in person before the auction ends. ALL SALES ARE FINAL! If you have any questions, lease contact me before the auction ends. If you have any questions, lease contact me. If you live close to Chicago, encourage you to come and inspect the motorcycle in person.

In an effort to protect the eBay user information and to help ensure the authenticity of correspondence between sellers and bidders, Bay’s new listing format does NOT display any bidder information. Nevertheless, STRONGLY encourage bidders to contact me directly to answer questions or to verify correspondence. Seller reserves the right to not accept bids or sell the vehicle to anyone with a zero or negative eBay feedback rating.

This motorcycle is being sold as is, here is with no warranty, xpressed, ritten or implied unless there is a warranty in effect from the factory. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, uthenticity, enuineness, r defects herein, nd makes no warranty in connection therewith. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, mperfection, efect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the motorcycle and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this motorcycle at the buyer's request PRIOR to the close of sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any statements regardless of any oral statements about the item.

Please remember that your bid constitutes a legally binding contract to purchase this item. If you require an inspection, ave it done prior to bidding. I strongly encourage all bidders to inspect the motorcycle personally or enlist the services of a professional inspector prior to placing a bid. After the sale, nspections are not recognized as a contingency to completing your obligation to your winning bid. If there are any questions regarding the above terms, lease e-mail prior to bidding.

Please do not waste my time or yours bidding on an item you do not intend to pay for. If you bid on this part and win, ou are expected to pay for the Motorcycle and pick it up in a timely manner!

I welcome ALL international bidders and am happy to assist with making shipping arrangements. I can also arrange crating for shipment on my end for a nominal extra charge. If you are an international buyer, understand it can take some time to arrange shipping, o I do not mind keeping the motorcycle for a longer period of time until pick up. Please contact me before the sale ends, f possible, o discuss the specifics.

Thanks for your interest!

For more on the Norton motorcycle company, lease read on past the photos…

Norton Motorcycle History:

The Norton Motorcycle Company (formerly Norton Motors, td.) is a British motorcycle marque, riginally from Birmingham, K. It was founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade". By 1902, he company began manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908, Norton-built engine was added to the range. This began a long series of production of single and eventually twin-cylinder motorcycles, nd a long history of racing involvement.

Wartime WW2 production of the military Model 16 H and Big 4 sidevalve motorcycles was Norton's contribution to the war effort, lmost 100,000 being manufactured.

When major shareholders started to leave Norton in 1953, he company declined and Associated Motor Cycles bought the shares. Although motorcycle sales went through a recession in the 1950s, nd Norton Motors Ltd was only a small manufacturer, orton sales flourished. A series of Norton Dominator Twins of 500cc, hen 600cc, hen 650cc and then the 750cc Norton Atlas kept sales buoyant, specially with sales to the USA.

In 1968, he new 750cc Norton Commando Model appeared, ith the engine/gearbox/swingarm unit "isolastically" insulated from the frame with a series of rubber mountings. This kept the vibrations from the rider, iving a smooth comfortable ride. The Commando was a best seller, nd voted #1 Motorcycle of the Year a number of times in Britain. 850cc Models appeared for 1973, iving more torque. For 1975 an electric start arrived in the 850 Mk3.

The largest UK motorcycle manufacturer at the time was BSA-Triumph, omprising Birmingham Small Arms Company in Birmingham, nd Triumph Motorcycles in Meriden. BSA-Triumph faced difficulties caused by poor management, utdated union practices, ld-fashioned motorcycle designs and antiquated factory conditions.

A merger with Norton Motorcycles was proposed; but although Dennis Poore's Norton Motorcycles was by far the smaller partner, oore effectively secured a take-over of BSA-Triumph, orming Norton Villiers Triumph (NVT). The Triumph factory Meriden was the least modern; but workers engaged in a "sit-in", orming a workers' co-operative. Poore was CEO of Manganese Bronze Holdings, company apparently more concerned with asset stripping than with motorcycle production. Subsequent politicalmaneuveringsled to the downfall of NVT, s taxpayer-assisted wranglings over amalgamations and sell-offs all but killed the once extensive UK motorcycle industry.

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

Early History:

The original company was formed by James Lansdowne Norton (known as "Pa") at 320, radford Street, irmingham in 1898. In 1902, orton began building motorcycles with French and Swiss engines. In 1907, Norton ridden by Rem Fowler won the twin-cylinder class in the first Isle of Man TT race, eginning a sporting tradition that went on until the 1960s. The first Norton engines were made in 1907, ith production models available from 1908. These were the 3.5 hp (490cc) and the 'Big 4' (633cc), eginning a line of side-valve single-cylinder engines which continued with few changes until the late 1950s.

The first Norton logo was a fairly simple, rt nouveau design, ith the name spelled in capitals. However, new logo appeared on the front of the catalogue for 1914, hich was a joint effort by James Lansdowne Norton and his daughter Ethel. It became known as the "curly N" logo, ith only the initial letter as a capital, nd was used by the company thereafter, irst appearing on actual motorcycles in 1915. Ethel Norton also did some testing of her father's motorcycles.

In 1913 the business declined, nd R.T. Shelley & Co., he main creditors, ntervened and saved the company. Norton Motors Ltd was formed shortly afterwards under joint directorship of James Norton and Bob Shelley. Shelley's brother-in-law was tuner Dan O'Donovan, nd he managed to set a significant number of records on the Norton by 1914 when the war broke out - and as competition motorcycling was largely suspended during the hosilities, hese records still stood when production restarted after the war. 1914 Dan O'Donovan records set in April 1914 :

-Under 500cc flying km 81.06 mph, lying mile 78.60 mph - 490cc Norton

-Under 750cc flying km and flying mile see above

-Under 500cc with sidecar flying km 65.65 mph, lying mile 62.07 mph - 490cc Norton

-Under 750cc with sidecar flying km and flying mile see above

On 17 July 1914 O'Donovan also took the flying 5 mile record at 75.88 mph, nd the standing start 10 mile record at 73.29 mph, gain on the 490cc Norton.

AMC:

Despite, r perhaps because of, he racing successes Norton was in financial difficulty. Reynolds could not make many of the highly desired Featherbed frames and customers lost interest in buying machines with the older frames. In 1953 Norton sold out to Associated Motorcycles (AMC), ho owned the brands AJS, atchless, rancis-Barnett and James. In 1962 the Norton factory in Bracebridge Street, irmingham was closed and production was moved to AMC's Woolwich factory in south-east London.

Under AMC ownership a much improved version of the Norton gearbox was developed, o be used on all the larger models of AJS, atchless and Norton. Again, he major changes were for improved gear selection. In September 1955, 600 cc Dominator 99 was launched. The 1946 to 1953 Long Stroke Manx Norton was 79.6 mm ? 100 mm (3.1 in ? 3.9 in) initially SOHC, he DOHC engine becoming available to favoured racers in 1949. The Short Stroke model (1953 to 1962) had bore and stroke of 86 mm ? 85.6 mm (3.4 in ? 3.4 in). It used a dry sump 499 cc single-cylinder motor, ith two valves operated by bevel drive, haft driven twin overhead camshafts. Compression ratio was 11:1. It had an Amal GP carburettor, nd a Lucas racing magneto. The 1962 500 cc Manx Nortons produced 50 bhp (37 kW) at 6,780rpm, eighed 142 kg (313 lb), nd had a top speed of 209 km/h (130 mph).

In 1960, new version of the road-going Featherbed frame was developed in which the upper frame rails were bent inwards to reduce the width between the rider's knees for greater comfort. The move was also to accommodate the shorter rider as the wide frame made it difficult to reach the ground. This frame is known as the "slimline" frame; the earlier frames then became known as the "wideline".

The last Manx Nortons were sold in 1963. Even though Norton had pulled out of Grand Prix racing in 1954, he race-shop at Bracebridge Street continued until 1962, nd the Manx became a mainstay of privateer racing, nd even today are highly sought after, ommanding high prices.

On November 7, 960 the first new 650cc Norton Manxman was launched for the American market only. By September 1961 the Norton 650SS appeared for the UK market, he 750cc (Atlas). By April 20, 962 for the American market as they demanded more power, ut the increases to the vertical twin engine's capacity caused a vibration problem at 5500 rpm. A 500cc vertical twin is smoother than a single-cylinder, ut if the vertical twin's capacity is enlarged vibration increases. The 750 Norton Atlas proved too expensive and costs could not be reduced. Financial problems gathered.

There was an export bike primarily for use as a desert racer, old up until 1969 as the Norton P11, JS Model 33 and Matchless G15, hich used the Norton Atlas engine in a modified Matchless G85CS scrambler frame with Norton wheels and front forks. This bike was reputed to vibrate less than the Featherbed frame model. AMC singles were also sold with Norton badging in this era.

Also during this period Norton developed a family of three similar smaller-capacity twin cylinder machines: first the Norton Jubilee 250 and then the Navigator 350 and the Electra 400, hich had an electric starter. These models were Norton's first use of unit construction. The engine was an entirely new design by Bert Hopwood and the frame and running gear were from the Francis-Barnett range, lso owned by AMC.

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