1956 Manx Norton 350

Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: IIM2
Engine No: 10M 78410
CC: 350
MOT: N/A

• Unrestored original and honest condition 350 Manx, with attractive patina
• Current long-term ownership since 1970
• Raced by the owner in the Manx GP and the TT in the 1970s and 80s
• Also raced in the Southern 100 and UK short circuit events
• Has benefitted from an engine overhaul at some point
• There is no paperwork with this lot. Unused for several years, having been kept in dry storage

We are indebted to the vendor for the following information:

"Purchased in the late '60s/early '70s from a dealer friend of mine called Fred Hartley from St Helens, Fred and I both did sand racing. It was competed at many events and was the North West champion machine. The aim was to race in the TT but the ACU kept refusing his entries.

It was felt the 350 would be ideal for the Manx and so it was entered in 1972. Having never raced the bike, nor in fact, even ridden it until the first-morning practice when heading down Bray Hill, the other competitors had told him to try and get the qualifying laps in when the weather permitted, so with this in mind, he did two laps non-stop. He enjoyed the experience and realised that the following year (1973) was the 50th anniversary of the Manx so he entered. He was timed at 114mph through the speed trap and managed 6th fastest in practice. In 1972 the magneto packed in and in 1973 the feed pipe to the cam box burst on the mountain. He then rode the 350 at short circuits plus the Southern 100 and TT classic events. The engine was always maintained by a Liverpool man called Harold Hall, a very clever engineer, well known for making fast engines. He was sponsored by Eddie Crooks for my sidecar racing and as a thank you, the vendor loaned him the bike to do the 'Lap of Honour'. Eddie loved the bike and desperately wanted to buy it! Frank Rutter, former TT winner also raced it in the Isle of Man and mainland circuits. Motorcycle Sport magazine showed a picture of the bike in the paddock when I was racing in the Southern 100 and commented that it was a very original machine. It is also mentioned in a book called 'TT Topics & Tales'.

The vendor could tell you many tales, one such as coming down the mountain on the 350 and the flexible mount for the float chamber broke. I coasted to Hilberry, there was a lady knitting on the banking, so I pulled over and cadged a bit of wool to hang the float chamber from, then carried on to the finish."

For more information, please contact:
Mike Davis
mike.davis@handh.co.uk
07718 584217