1955 Norton 500cc Manx Racing Motorcycle
This ad is marked as Sold
Description: |
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| From the prominent American family du Pont, a name synonymous with a chemical empire, a luxury automobile manufacturer, and America’s first motorcycle company, is a private museum collection three generations in the making. Offered for the very first time, the collection of nearly 50 vintage motorcycles spanning 70 years of history contains many important and impressive machines, a good number of them Indian. As an investor of the Indian Motocycle (sic) Company since 1923, Eleuthere Paul du Pont took over the ailing company in 1929 and helped usher in one of the most successful eras – financially, competitively, technologically and stylistically – in Indian’s history. As a result of this, the du Pont family collection contains numerous Indian models – many of which were restored at Indian’s Springfield, Mass. factory – such as Camelback, Singles, Twins, Board Track Racer, Prince, Scout, Chief and Four. Lot No: 216 The ex-Ernie Washer c.1955 Norton 500cc Manx Racing Motorcycle Engine no. 11M 63540 Dubbed 'Manx Grand Prix' in 1939, what would become the best-known racing motorcycle of all time had become simply 'Manx' when production resumed in 1946. Norton's over-the-counter Manx racers were much the same as their pre-war counterparts, with single-overhead-camshaft engine, 'square' cylinder head finning, upright gearbox and plunger-suspended 'garden gate' frames. Only the presence of the Roadholder telescopic front fork readily distinguished them from the '39 machines. 1949 brought the first significant change in engine specification, the Manx gaining a double-overhead-camshaft 'head like that enjoyed by the works bikes for many years, but the major development was the arrival of the Featherbed frame for 1951. The works' adoption of the McCandless-designed duplex-loop swinging-arm chassis the previous year had given the Nortons a new lease of life in Grand Prix racing, and Geoff Duke duly took both the 350 and 500cc world titles in 1951. The cycle parts remained essentially unchanged from then on apart from the adoption of a double-sided, twin-leading-shoe front brake for 1962. Manx engine development though, continued steadily, latterly under Doug Hele's direction, until production ceased at the end of '62, among the most significant design changes being the adoption of 'square' bore and stroke dimensions for 1954 and coarser-pitch bevel teeth in 1957. This particular Manx Norton was previously raced by Ernie Washer, a regular Manx Grand Prix competitor who won the Senior race at record speed in 1958. Washer's sponsor was Mr E H Sadler, proprietor of the Forge Garage at Smallfield, near Horley, Surrey, who had bought two new Manxes – a 350 and a 500 – for the 1958 season, the engines of which were prepared by legendary Norton Manx tuner, Francis Beart. Beart's association with Messrs Washer and Sadler appears to have commenced a few years previously and this particular Manx had already passed into other hands when Francis told Lex du Pont of its whereabouts circa 1961. Bought by Lex from its then owner, the Manx was raced by Jack du Pont at Daytona Beach in 1962. In 1963 the engine was installed in Lex's Formula 3 Cooper, powering him to a 3rd-in-class finish at Brands Hatch in the August Bank Holiday meeting and a win at the Brighton Speed Trials. Noteworthy features of this particular engine are its special main bearings and flywheels (stamped 'Beart'). Offered on a bill of sale. Without reserve Estimate: US$30,000 - 40,000 Request Condition Report Contact the Specialist to discuss this lot or selling in a future sale Email: Motor Cars (US) Tel: +1 415 391 4000 To subscribe to or order a Printed Catalogue quote ref: 19679 Tel: +1 800 223 2854 ext 3550 |
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Members profile: |
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| Advertised by: | Bonhams Motorcycle Auctions (click here to see full profile) |
| Email: | Email Advertiser |
Ad Details |
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| Property is | Sold |
| Garage Spaces (put 0 if this does not apply) | 0.00 |
| Type: | Motorcycle, Classic Vehicle / Collector Vehicle |
| New or Used: | Used |
| Year: | 1955 |
| Model: | 500cc Manx Racing Motorcycle |
| Make: | Norton |
| Price: | $0 USD |
| Price Info | Being Sold at Auction: Estimate: US $30,000 - 40,000 |
| Which Celebrity? | The DuPont Collection |
| Celebrity Owned | Yes |
For Sale at Auction |
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| Auction Sale? | Yes |
| Type of Auction | Phone Bidding, Internet Bidding, On-site Registration, Minimum Bid Amount Required, Retail Auction Event, Reserve Price |
| Auction Date | 01/12/2012 |
| Auction Time | 12 Noon |
| Location | Imperial Palace and Casino in Las Vegas |
| Name of Auction | The Las Vegas Motorcycle Sale |
| Auction Website | http://www.bonhams.com/usa/auction/19679/lot/216/# |
Unique Sale Issues |
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| Type of Sale | Auction Company Sale |
Website |
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| Website | http://www.bonhams.com/usa/auction/19679/lot/216/# |
Location |
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| Address | 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. S. |
| City | Las Vegas |
| State | NV |
| Postal Code | 89109 |
| Country | usa |
Call Me! |
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| Phone | +1-323-436-5470 |
| Cell Phone | +44 (0) 87 0027 3616 |
| Ad id: | 47892083 |
| Ad views: | 8399 |